CABU by the Lakes named Cavan Business of the Year for 2022
CABU by the Lakes have been named the Cavan Business of the Year for 2022.
The award was presented this afternoon at The Anglo-Celt Cavan Business & Tourism Awards in the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell.
CABU by the Lakes had earlier also claimed the Best Cavan Tourism Experience Award.
Kate Carolan, sales manager for Cabu by the Lakes, accepted the award on behalf of her team and outlined some exciting plans for the luxury forest holiday retreat at Killykeen and on the shores of Lough Oughter.
Three years ago, Killykeen Forest Holidays took over 75 acres at thepark to invest close to €5M in upgrading 28 existing holiday cabins and create Cabu by the Lakes.
Managed by Shane Kelly, the business employs 40 people.
Over the next five years, the team hope to grow the resort from the current 28 luxury cabins to 43, with plans for a spa, additional activities and guest experiences coming on stream every season.
Six category winners were announced.
They were:
Best Family Business: Erne Motor Works
Best Customer Experience: Chapter One
Best Cavan Tourism Experience: Cabu by the lakes
Most Resilient Business: Arden Broadband Ltd
Not for Profit: Focus Family Resource
Innovation Award: Arch-i Modular Solutions
Lifetime achievement award
A lifetime achievement award was also presented to Michael Hanley, CEO of Lakeland Dairies, who is set to retire at the end of the year after more than 30 years in the business and having been CEO since 2006.
The CEO of Celtic Media Group, Frank Mulrennan, read a citation for Mr Hanley in which he highlighted his massive contribution to the industry and the region – for both farmers and business – in what has been a glowing career.
Mr Mulrennan listed Mr Hanley's many achievements including his investment of over €200M in new facilities and technologies and increasing the business's processing capacity to a record level of over two billion litres and an operating profit for 2021 of €28.2M.
The co-operative has eight dairy processing centres and collects milk from 3,200 family farms across 16 counties on a cross border basis.
"Retiring after a financial performance like that Michael displays better timing than dare I say it Brian Cody; Joe Schidmt and every single Taoiseach and Prime Minister since time immemorial," said Mr Mulrennan, who was at university with Mr Hanley.
"Michael…..you have made a very significant contribution to your industry; to this area in terms of jobs within the co-op; on farms and in supply businesses; you are chairman of the County Cavan Enterprise Fund; a friend to many people and a great family man," he continued.
"Today, we – at the Cavan Business & Tourism Awards – salute you and say congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award."
Mr Hanley was joined by his wife Val for the occasion. Having accepted the award, Mr Hanley gave an inspiring and, at times, emotional speech in which he thanked his family and mentors for their guidance and support.
The CEO also had high praise for Lakeland Dairies suppliers, the dairy farmers on the ground and their staff within the business.
"If you want to be successful, surround yourself in stars," he advises.
Mr Hanley also commended business owners present who had the courage to step forward, set up a business, employ people, create jobs and pay wages every week.
Mary McGuigan, the commercial consultant for Celtic Media Group, thanked all of the award’s sponsors The Slieve Russell, AIB Cavan, Cavan Enterprise Office, Cavan Tourism and Kelly Rahill & Co for their support of the event.
Congratulations to all of the finalists.
They were: Best Family Business - Cabra Castle, Erne Motor Works, MFM Joinery, Hawthorn Lodge; Customer Experience – Chapter One, Crover House Hotel, ClubSpot and Cavan Credit Union; Best Cavan Tourism Experience – CABU by the Lakes, Cavan Adventure Centre, Farnham Estate, Spa and Golf Resort and Crafts of Ireland; Most Resilient Business – Arden Broadband, Frazer Dental, Gardiner Carpets and Vinyls and Lil Buddies; Not for Profit – Focus Family Resource Centre, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and SOSAD Cavan; Innovation Award – Hybrid Energy Group; Arch-I Modular Solutions; Wilton Waste Recycling and Kore Insulations.
MC for the event was Celt editor, Linda O’Reilly.
Brendan Jennings, director of service, Cavan County Council, was among the special guests. He addressed the nominees, praising them for their successes in business and, in particular, their resilience through tough times from Brexit to Covid and now inflation and rising costs.
* For more reaction and photos, see next week’s print edition of The Anglo-Celt.