ClubSpot named Cavan Business of the Year 2025

THERE was a warm and generous atmosphere in the Cranaghan Suite at the Slieve Russell Hotel on Friday night to celebrate the best and brightest of local businesses and entrepreneurs gathered for The Anglo-Celt’s annual Cavan Business & Tourism Awards in partnership with Cavan County Council.

The biggest winner on the night was ClubSpot, which was named Cavan Business of the Year, having already claimed the Most Innovative Business award earlier in the evening.

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Founded by John Hyland in 2020, ClubSpot is an app, which aims to reduce the administration and support revenue streams for sports clubs.

The delighted CEO John Hyland had these words of inspiration and encouragement for the business people in the room.

“We have been very lucky we have good people around us and good people backing us. And we’ve been able to put in a team of some of the brightest and hungriest young people in Cavan.

“The first couple of years were hard work, things didn’t exactly go to plan but, since then, in the past couple of years, we’ve gone from a team of five to 35 people. We have customers now in four different countries.

“We’re really looking to expand and try and build one of Cavan’s next great businesses. It has been brilliant.”

Not coming from an IT background himself, he urged entrepreneurs in the room to embrace AI and to employ people who understand it to help them identify and implement the best tools for their business.

The whole event was made possible through the valued sponsorship of local firms and organisations including GMK Partners and Farnham Financial Services; Cavan Local Enterprise Office; Cavan Tourism; the Slieve Russell Hotel; AIB, Cavan; Sheridan Insurances; and Lakelands Crematorium and Funeral Homes.

MC for the night was Anglo-Celt Managing Editor, Linda O’Reilly, who invited on stage sponsors and local personalities to announce each of the winners and present them with their award.

As the host introduced each of the 31 Cavan businesses, which had been shortlisted in eight categories, one couldn’t help but be impressed – and inspired – by the wealth of talent, the strength of entrepreneurial spirit and feeling of goodwill in the room.

BEST FAMILY BUSINESS

Bradys of Arva won the title of Best Family Business 2025 in a category that included well-known family enterprises like E&M Stores, Cootehill; TM’s Vintage Bar, Kilnaleack and Donegan’s Garden & Leisure, Bailieboro.

Accepting the award on behalf of his family and staff, Padraig Brady summed up what the awards meant to many in the room when he said: “I feel very privileged and very blessed to be picked as the winner.”

Congratulating the other finalists, Padraig also said he felt “very humbled and grateful for winning this great award”.

The category was sponsored by GMK Partners, with managing director Gerard Kelly presenting the award.

BEST EMERGING

NEW BUSINESS

Despite tough competition in this category from Mark Lawlor Auctioneers in Cootehill; Luso’s Casual Dining in Cavan Town; and Mary Ellen’s Meadow from Tierworker, Café Nua ‘emerged’ as the winner.

Smiling sisters and business partners, Inta and Vita, said they were “very happy” to win.

This award was kindly sponsored by Local Enterprise Office, Cavan.

TOURISM BUSINESS

OF THE YEAR

This is Cavan! sponsored this category that included a sauna, a travel agency, camino and fisherman. In the end Killeshandra Camino saw off competition from Cavan Travel in Cavan Town; Irish Pike Fishing Guides based in Cootehill; and the Nook Sauna in Tullyvin to take home the award. For their acceptance speech, the committee gave a rendition of Paddy Reilly’s “Cavan Girl” and urged everyone to walk the Killeshandra Camino route next June!

EXCELLENCE IN

CUSTOMER SERVICE

In a category that is all about the personal touch and in-person interaction, each of the four finalists were hailed for what they do for customers every day. C-True Opticians in Virginia won the award in a category that also saw Value Centre Cash & Carry, Cavan; the Riverside Spa in Stradone; and Cian’s Tech World, Cavan Town shortlisted.

Receiving their award from General Manager of the Slieve Russell Hotel, Tony Walker, was an emotional moment for C-True staff who said they are “carrying on the legacy” of their founder, Jit Nagra, who was “destined to bring excellent customer service in the optics industry because all he ever wanted to do was to look after his customers”.

BEST IN FASHION & LIFESTYLE

A life-changing event, an eye for detail, inspiration from the Irish landscape, and a desire to help people feel good in their own skin were just some of the factors that drove the nominees in this category to take their experiences and turn them into a business.

Always Aesthetics skin clinic in Cavan Town; What’s Your Excuse coaching services run by Dominic Donegan of Maudabawn; Margaret Coyne Couture in Dowra; and Simply Style by Fi consultancy based in Virginia were all shortlisted in this category. Fresh from her success at Paris Fashion Week, designer Margaret Coyne Couture won the title on the night. When she went to collect her award from Benny Sheridan of Sheridan Insurances, Margaret was wearing one of her own designs. Afterwards she told the Celt she was “so proud” of her award. “I am not a native of Cavan, my husband is from Dowra,” Margaret said, “But I have been welcomed into Cavan with open arms and Cavan has become my home, my community, my place.

“I am so proud of this – to be part of somewhere full of entrepreneurs and great people!”

BEST GREEN BUSINESS

A supermarket, butcher, printers and recycling plant were shortlisted in this category. A long-established ethos of minimising waste at Duffy’s Costcutter in Shercock; buying paper only from sustainable forests at Harvest Moon Printing in Killehandra; high welfare-bred and sustainably-sourced meat at Herd Butchery in Butlersbridge and an entire business based on recycling in Ballyjamesduff showcased the ways in which several businesses in this category are committed to the environment and the future.

Wilton Recycling was declared the winners and presented with their award by the manager of AIB Cavan, Aisling Vaughan. Speaking afterwards, Wilton’s sales manager, Tom Connolly, said the award was made possible because of “a lot of support from staff”.

Tom also said, in the future, Wilton wants to concentrate in further reducing their carbon footprint.

MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS

In this category we heard about Apridtata based in the Digital Hub in Cavan Town, which has developed AI data handling for domestic and overseas businesses; Cald Engineering Ltd, which designs and manufactures industrial equipment from a Crosserlough workshop and a sports club app created by a Gowna man.

ClubSpot, which helps club members buy match tickets, lotto tickets and follow club news, won the innovation award, which was sponsored by Lakelands Crematorium and presented by Declan Finnegan.

When he picked up the award on Friday night, founder and CEO, John Hyland said he started the business on his own in 2020.

“We had the ambition of starting an international business from Cavan and it probably seemed like a pipe dream at the time but we were very lucky with the people around us.”

BEST NOT FOR PROFIT

It was time to take stock of social priorities in the Not For Profit category when the packed room was told of work carried out by Cavan organisations for children with additional needs and rescue animals; how a café in Kilanleck has become a hub for the Irish language, artists and beekeepers and one grieving sister’s nationwide anti-bullying campaign.

Cavan Parents Autism Support (CAPS), Cavan SPCA and the Súil Éile Community Café in Kilnaleck were runners-up to the Be Buddies Not Bullies campaign, which was the idea of Chloe Heaslip whose brother, Eden died by suicide.

As Chloe and other members of the Heaslip family and Be Buddies team made their way to collect their award, they received a spontaneous standing ovation from every person in the room.

In an emotional speech, Chloe said she receives messages from teachers from across the country every day telling her of the positive impact the Be Buddies Not Bullies initiative has had in their schools.

“That’s all we ever wanted, after Eden passed,” Chloe told Linda O’Reilly. “If we could save just one person that’s all we ever wanted.”

As winners in this category, the Be Buddies Not Bullies committee were the beneficiaries of a silent raffle on the night, raising over €1,500 for the campaign.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, John Paul Feeley, presented this special award to Chief Executive of Cavan County Local Development, Terry Hyland, who accepted it on behalf of Cavan County Local Development (CCLD).

The organisation supports communities, individuals, and businesses to increase their economic sustainability, combat climate change, tackle social exclusion, combat poverty and improve their quality of life.

Outlining some of the work undertaken by CCLD, Mr Hyland revealed that, in the past year alone, CCLD has supported over 60 new business start-ups and helped numerous people back into work.

Terry Hyland described the awards as a nice validation for those “who get up every day to do the best they can and try to be a success every day”.

“I think the future’s bright for the country when you see the types of businesses here tonight,” he said.

ENDEAVOUR AWARD

Ronan Murray, Irish Pike Fishing Guide, won this special award for turning his hobby into a successful tourism business, which is putting Cavan on the map.

When he received his award, a pleasantly surprised Ronan said he is now fishing six days a week introducing people from all over Ireland to the lakes and best fishing spots in Cavan. “It started up on a Saturday and Sunday but now it’s going six days a week and I love it,” Ronan told Linda O’Reilly, “I couldn’t be happier.” Ronan also dedicated his award to his uncle with whom he spent many days fishing before his passing.

SPIRIT OF THE AWARDS

A special award also went to Rose Carolan who was also nominated in the Best Emerging New Business category for her natural drinks range called Mary-Ellen’s Meadow.

Rose’s business based in Tierworker grew organically from her passion for foraging local ingredients, her fascination with herbal remedies and her love of the outdoors.

The artisan range of Mary Ellen’s Meadow drinks are now socked in LIDL and Rose has been selected for Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Voucher, which gives her €10,000 worth of time with a business expert.

Collecting her award, Rose described herself as a woman who is often “found in hedges” and spoke of her delight at seeing her business grow from strength to strength.

Entertainment

While guests continued their celebrations in the Slieve Russell into the night, they were treated to entertainment by a DJ and and the sounds of Cormac McCann, the Piano Man.

Everyone who attened the Anglo-Celt Business and Tourism Awards 2025 was invited to enter a raffle to win an overnight stay with breakfast and dinner at the Slieve Russell Hotel Golf Resort & Spa with all proceeds raised going to local charity campaign and winner of the Best Not For Profit Award, Be Buddies Not Bullies, founded by Chloe Heaslip.

Thanks to all those who took part and kindly donated, the raffle raised €1,541. The winner of the Slieve Russell break was Aga Graczyk who was with the team from Wilton Recycling; while B & J Maguire won a year’s subscription to the Celt e-paper.

Thanks also to our collaborators Scott’s Cider and Áine’s Handmade Chocolate.

And so concludes another successful Anglo-Celt Business and Tourism Awards, which celebrated and acknowledged the best of local entrepreneurship, community and tourism.

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Glitz and Glamour on the red carpet at the Business Awards