Chamber Business Awards

Over 200 Wicklow business people, public figures and media turned out for the major celebrations at the prestigious 2009 Wicklow Chamber dinner dance and business awards at the Parkview Hotel, Newtowmountkennedy on Friday 20th November.

Host for the evening, Apprentice star, Brian Purcell kept the crowd on its toes, appointing a referee at each table to ensure the talk was positive and upbeat, warning those gathered “If I as much as hear a whisper of the ‘R’ word… well just wait and see!”

The suave TV star was a major hit with the ladies, drawing huge cheers when he announced “My Mammy loves me coming to these events because she knows there will be plenty of ladies – and I might finally settle down!”

The night was full of cheer and optimism for the future of Wicklow Business, with Wicklow Chamber President, Martina Robinson announcing that “Wicklow means business”, calling on all present to toast the “fantastic celebration of the successes of 2009, and the launch of 2010 - yet another year where we will continue to embrace challenges and strive for the very best in business here in Wicklow”.

The highlight of the evening, as always, was the presentation of the prestigious Wicklow Chamber Business Awards across seven categories. Keysolve Software took the big award of the night – the Wicklow Enterprise Centre Overall Business Award, with property company Portella Developments taking the runner-up award in the category.

The Schering Plough Best New Business award went to Diamond Bowl, and the runner-up prize went to Austen Associates. The Herbst Award for Innovation went to Kinometrics Ltd with Whatswhat.ie winning the runner-up award.

The Wicklow Town Council Best Retail Award went to Toymaster Hopkins, with the runner-up prize going to Cullens Quality Butchers. Shark Designs was the winner of the 2009 Conway Media Best Service Provider; with Premier Captioning & Realtime winning the runner-up prize.

Astron Engineering took the Keysolve Small Business Award; the runner-up was Laztech IT Services. The Burke Oil Community Service Award went to Wicklow Arts Festival.

A special recognition award took Tony O’Neill of Wicklow County Council by surprise.

Chamber President Martina Robinson announced that when the Chamber heard that Tony was retiring this year, they knew they had to pay tribute to him for his major contribution to the development of Wicklow business over the years. Martina said Tony always “cut through the red tape and made things happen”. She commended Tony’s role in making the Wicklow Enterprise Centre a reality and highlighted his major achievement in the setting up of Clermont Campus, launching Wicklow’s first-ever Thirds Level Institution. A stunned Tony O’Neill was lost for words!

Crowned the best ever Wicklow Chamber annual dinner dance to date, winners, shortlistees and revellers danced and partied into the early hours. Chamber President Martina Robinson said the bar was set high for next year’s dinner dance and awards ceremony.