Enter now for the 2026 Cavan Business and Tourism Awards!
Nominations are now open for the Celt’s 13th annual Cavan Business and Tourism Awards with brand new categories added for this year’s event.
The awards, which are run in partnership with Cavan County Council, were officially launched by Cathaoirleach Carmel Brady, with sponsors also in attendance at Cavan Digital Hub on Monday afternoon.
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Partners and sponsors at the launch of the Cavan Business & Tourism Awards in the Cavan Digi Hub on Monday afternoon. Back (from left): Kelly Crowe, Sheridan Insurance; Benny Sheridan, Sheridan Insurance; Nuala Sheridan, AIB Cavan; Kevin Gillard, GMK Partners; Jackie Cunningham, GMK Partners; Rachel Sloane, GMK Partners; Karl Kelly, Cavan Local Enterprise Office and Michelle McGrath, Advertising Executive with The Anglo-Celt and Awards Co-Ordinator; front, Siobhan McPhillips, Sheridan Insurance; Aisling Vaughan, Manager AIB Cavan; Linda O’Reilly, Managing Editor, The Anglo-Celt; Brendan Jennings, Acting Chief Executive, Cavan County Council; Cllr Carmel Brady, Cathaoirleach, Cavan County Council; Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, Cavan LEO; Gerard Kelly, GMK Partners and Ciaran Callaghan, Callaghan Electrical.Photos: Sean McMahonImage 2 of 6
Cllr Carmel Brady, Cathaoirleach, Cavan County Council, declare nominations for the awards officially open.Image 3 of 6
Karl Kelly, Business Advisor, Cavan Local Enterprise Office (LEO); Brendan Jennings, Acting Chief Executive, Cavan County Council; Cllr Carmel Brady, Cathaoirleach, Cavan County Council and Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, Cavan LEO.Image 4 of 6
Ciaran Callaghan, Callaghan Electrical.; Nuala Sheridan and Aisling Vaughan, AIB Cavan and Linda O’Reilly, Managing Editor, The Anglo Celt.Image 5 of 6
Linda O’Reilly, The Anglo-Celt; with Kelly Crowe, Siobhan McPhillips and Benny Sheridan, all Sheridan Insurance and Michelle McGrath, The Anglo-Celt.Image 6 of 6
Benny Sheridan, Sheridan Insurance, in conversation with Gerard Kelly, GMK Partners.There are nine categories total, and nominations are sought from Cavan businesses considered deserving of recognition in their respective sector. Companies and also nominate themselves.
Managing Editor of The Anglo-Celt, Linda O’Reilly, said the event highlight excellence in business across the county, and gives those businesses a platform to promote themselves.
“Cavan people have always demonstrated strong entrepreneurial spirit,” she said.
“Despite the many challenges thrown at us in recent years from the recession to Covid, the global uncertainty caused by wars, a cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel costs and everything in between, we are all still standing and stronger than ever before.”
This year’s awards introduce three new categories; Best in Retail, Best in Hospitality and Best Agri-Food Business, to further recognise the excellent businesses across the county.
Popular categories such as Best New Business and Best Family Business remain (see advert across for all categories and details of how to enter).
Ms O’Reilly said such businesses deserve “great credit” for continuing to prosper and provide vital products and services to their communities, “not least employment”.
Cathaoirleach Carmel Brady stated that the awards “recognise the outstanding achievements of businesses, tourism operators, community enterprises and individuals who make a significant contribution to the county’s economic growth”.
She also said such enterprises make Cavan a “vibrant place to live, work, visit and of course invest”.
As a “non-native” of the county, Acting Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Brendan Jennings, noticed how Cavan’s entrepreneurial spirit “is very evident”.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship is very much part of the heritage of Cavan people, and the people of Cavan should be extremely proud. I know we are as a local authority.”
He praised those small businesses who started among the drumlins and lakes of the county, who are now internationally recognised.
“It shows the scale that the people of this county can go to,” he praised.
He further acknowledged the Local Enterprise Office for their role in supporting business, and praised the sponsors of this year’s awards.
Mr Jennings is looking forward to the pitch night, where the finalists explain how they made their dreams become a reality.
“It’s a wonderful event, it’s great to be involved and best of luck to all the candidates,” he concluded.
Nominations for this year’s awards close September 11, with the event ceremony taking place in the Slieve Russell Hotel on October 23.
Sponsors
This year’s partners are Cavan County Council, Cavan Tourism, Cavan Local Enterprise Office; while the awards are also sponsored by AIB Cavan, the Slieve Russell Hotel, GMK Partners, Sheridan Insurances and Callaghan Electrical.