Pictured following IOAgri’s success in the Innovation Award at the National Enterprise Awards at the Mansion House, Dublin are (left to right): Eoin Doyle, Chief Executive, Cavan County Council; Cllr Carmel Brady, Cathaoirleach, Cavan County Council; Sandra Thompson and Shane O’Reilly, Co-founders IO Agri; Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise LEO Cavan; Gillian Madden, Senior Enterprise Advisor, LEO Cavan; Paddy Connaughton, Director of Service, Cavan County Council; Dermot Gallagher and Susan Leonard, LEO Cavan.

Success for local firms at Enterprise Awards

Seamus Enright

Published: Tue 23 Jun 2026, 11:38 AM

Cavan firm IO Agri has scooped the prestigious Innovation Award at this year’s National Enterprise Awards.

Monaghan based company The Rug Rack, meanwhile, won the regional North East award.

The awards, which took place at the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dublin, were in their 26th year and run annually by the Local Enterprise Offices.

Based in Canningstown and supported by Local Enterprise Office Cavan, IO Agri is run by founders Sandra Thompson and Shane O’Reilly, who created a system that allows farmers to trap emissions and convert them into by-products that can be used for renewable energy production, lowering emissions and creating a new income stream.

Sandra, Co-Founder of IO Agri, said: “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in developing practical, sustainable solutions for agriculture. Through our patented AgDAC technology and IO Applicator, we aim to help farmers and food processors at home and abroad meet environmental challenges while improving efficiency.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Carmel Brady congratulated the local company on their success. “Their success underpins the dynamic and exciting business that they are building in the agri-climate technology sector. Sandra and Shane exemplify the strong entrepreneurial talent that currently exists in County Cavan, and I wish them continued success.”

Eoin Doyle, Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, praised Cavan's strong enterprise culture. “By winning the National Innovation Award, IO Agri, through their co-founders Sandra and Shane, underlines the innovative nature of our enterprise base as the county pivots to embrace new opportunities in the agri-climate tech sector.

“Sandra and Shane from IO Agri are deserving winners of the National Innovation Award for 2026 and LEO Cavan looks forward to supporting them as they continue to develop and grow their dynamic business in the heart of Canningstown,” said Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan.

The Rug Rack, meanwhile, is owned by husband and wife team Padraic and Kathy Nolan. They officially launched their business in November 2023, following a period of testing in their own stable yard. They have since received orders from across Ireland, the UK and continental Europe for their power-assisted, flip-down storage and drying system designed to be space-saving, user-friendly, and suited to the demands of equestrian life.

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, announced the winners, saying the awards reflect the remarkable quality of small businesses right across the country.

The National Enterprise Awards is one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.

LEOs, under the auspices of local authorities, are government funded. They provide a range of supports, mentoring and grants for entrepreneurs looking to start a business or small businesses looking to grow.

For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie/cavan or www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Monaghan