Over 350 business leaders from across Kildare attended the Kildare Business Awards Gala Ball in association with Clark in the K Club on Friday night (17th November).

The guests included, Mayor of Kildare Martin Miley, Fiona O’Loughlin TD, CEO of Kildare County Council Peter Carey, President of Maynooth University Professor Philip Nolan, President of County Kildare Chamber Maureen Bergin and former Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton.

Allan Shine, CEO of the Chamber in his opening address paid tribute to all the finalists and noted that this year the Chamber received a record number of application for the category awards on offer.  He outlined how

2017 to date has been a great year for business in Kildare.  “Unemployment continued to fall, business sentiment continues to increase and there is a huge air of optimism in the county”.

Business of the Year for 2017 was won by Colourtrend who also took home the Customer Excellence Award.  Eamonn Sinnott, Vice President of the Technology and Manufacturing Group at Intel Corporation and the General Manager of Intel in Ireland was this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award.

 

Winners this year were:

 

Networker of the Year 2017, Sponsored by The Kildare Post

Ronan Twohig – House of Finance

 

Excellence in Tourism Award 2017 Sponsored by JF Dunne Insurances

Palmerstown House Estate

 

Excellence in Hospitality Award 2017 Sponsored by Punctual Print

The Keadeen Hotel

 

E Commerce Award 2017  Sponsored by Graphedia

The Clanard Court Hotel

 

Social Media / Digital Marketing Award 2017, Sponsored by Bettergolf.ie

Mondello Park

 

Customer Excellence Award 2017, Sponsored by AIB

Colourtrend

 

SME (1- 5 employees), Sponsored by O’Kelly Sutton Chartered Accountants

Essential Driver and Safety Solutions

 

SME (6-20 employees), Sponsored by Colourtrend

Sanctuary Synthetics

 

SME (21 plus employees), Sponsored by ISS Recruitment and Training

Crystal Air LTD

 

Retailer of the Year 2017, Sponsored by Ladytown Business Park

Reilly’s Supervalu Sallins

 

Innovation & Technology Award 2017, Sponsored by Kerry

ASH Technologies

 

Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2017, Sponsored by Hanahoe and Hanahoe Solicitors

Bank of Ireland Kildare

 

Start up Business of the Year 2017, Sponsored by LEO Kildare

J.A. Broghies Ireland LTD

 

Kildare Community Project of the Year 2017, Sponsored by Kildare County Council and the Queally Group

Naas Tidy Towns  –  Wild Food Festival

 

Overall Business of the year 2017, sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Colourtrend

 

2017 Recipient of “Outstanding contribution to business award” sponsored by Maynooth University

Eamonn Sinnott, Vice President of the Technology and Manufacturing Group at Intel Corporation and the General Manager of Intel in Ireland

 

Jennifer Forster and Alison Redmond of County Kildare Chamber with President of Maynooth University, Professor Philip Nolan