Minding their own businesses at Pitch Night
Family, business succession and innovation were central themes at the Pitch Night for this year's Cavan Business and Tourism Awards, which was hosted by AIB Cavan last Wednesday evening, September 30.
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Aisling Vaughan, Manager AIB Cavan; Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan and Linda O’Reilly, Managing Editor, The Anglo-Celt at the pitch night for the 13th annual Cavan Business & Tourism Awards. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 2 of 13
Some of the generous sponsors of the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards, which are run by The Anglo-Celt in partnership with Cavan County Council were delighted to see the large attendance at the pitch night. From left: Kieran Callaghan, Callaghan Electrical Ltd; Gerard Kelly, GMK Accounting & Tax Partners; Aisling Vaughan, Manager, AIB Cavan; Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan and Kelly Crowe and Benny Sheridan, Sheridan Insurances. Photos: Lorraine Teevan LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 3 of 13
RIGHT: There was a large crowd with standing room only at the pitch night for the Cavan Business and Tourism Awards, at AIB Cavan last Wednesday evening. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 4 of 13
Some of the dedicated Celt team pictured at Cavan Business and Tourism Awards pitch night in AIB, Cavan. From left Imelda Duggan and Jojo Quinn, Sales; Linda O’Reilly, Managing Editor; Roisin McManus, Journalist and Michelle McGrath, event co-ordinator and sales. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 5 of 13
Michelle McGrath, The Anglo-Celt; Marcus Magee, Gaeltech; Maria Brady, Manager, Cuan Cancer Support Cavan and Gerry Sheridan, Managing Director, Ice cream Treats, enjoying themselves at the pitch night. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 6 of 13
Ciara Gray, Breffni Arms Hotel, Arva, speaks about the well-known hotel, which has been nominated in the Best Family Business category at the Cavan Business & Tourism awards. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 7 of 13
The dedicated staff of AIB, Cavan. From left: Veronica McMahon, Marcella Williams, Sharon Lynch, Aisling Vaughan, manager; Nuala Sheridan, Mary Scallon and Coriana Hegarty at the Cavan Business & Tourism awards pitch night. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 8 of 13
Margaret & Brian Webber of Sports World (Cavan) with their granddaughter Isabelle. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 9 of 13
Enda, Cory, Tyler & Julie Sheridan of JT’s Village Store who are nominated in the Best in Retail category. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 10 of 13
Matthew Kavangh, Food & Beverage Manager, Hotel Kilmore; Paul Henry, General Manager, Hotel Kilmore; David Beattie & Rob Beattie, BT Brotech Sheep Guardian, all finalists in this year’s Cavan Business & Tourism awards. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 11 of 13
Raymond Reilly & Linda Reilly, RER Electrical & Solar Ltd, nominated in the Most Sustainable/Green category and Tony Tierney with his son Ben, Ben’s Eggs nominated in the Best Agri/Food Business category. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 12 of 13
Megan Harten of Mega Clean talks on her business at the pitch night. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 13 of 13
Breege O’Reilly, Manager, Drumlin House Training Centre; Isabelle Lord, board member Drumlin House Training Centre; Matthew Smith, board member Drumlin House Training Centre & Sean Grogan, board member Drumlin House Training Centre at the business awards pitch night in AIB Cavan. Drumlin House has been nominated in the Not For Profit/Social Enterprise Section. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735The 13th annual awards, which are run by The Anglo-Celt in partnership with Cavan County Council, were launched in August by Cathaoirleach Cllr Carmel Brady.
Three new categories were introduced this year - Best in Retail, Best in Hospitality and Best Agri/Food Business. The other categories include Emerging New Business, Best Family Business, Most Sustainable/Green Business, Excellence in Customer Service, Tourism Business of the Year, and Not for Profit/Social Enterprise.
On the night, around 30 finalists across nine categories each had two minutes to pitch their businesses to the judges in advance of the awards ceremony next month.
The event took place over two hours and was jointly chaired by Aisling Vaughan, Branch Manager AIB Cavan and Linda O’Reilly, Managing Editor of The Anglo-Celt.
“On behalf of myself and my colleagues - many of whom are in attendance here this evening, I would like to congratulate all of tonight’s finalists,” said Ms Vaughan, who chaired the first hour's proceedings.
“Well done to each and every one of you for making it to the finals.”
There was a short break in between the categories, during which time Conor Craven, Head of Enterprise with Cavan Local Enterprise Office outlined the many supports available to small businesses from LEO Cavan.
“We all know that Cavan has a very strong enterprise culture,” Mr Craven said.
“There are opportunities for employment here in Cavan, and in the Greater Dublin region as well. We are beginning to see traction in relation to housing - it will take time, but it is going to happen.”
The final hour was chaired by Ms O’Reilly.
“The diversity of businesses and the passion that people have, it’s really, really contagious - the energy that’s here in this room,” she said.
Along with The Anglo-Celt and Cavan County Council, this year’s awards are sponsored by the Slieve Russell Hotel, AIB Cavan, LEO Cavan, Cavan Tourism, GMK Partners, Sheridan Insurances and Callaghan Electrical.
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Friday, October 23, in the Slieve Russell Hotel, when the winners of each category will be announced, and the overall Cavan Business of the Year will be revealed from the category winners.
On the night, Barry Smith, founder and managing director of Abcon Ireland, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and deliver a keynote speech.
The Celt will also publish a special publication the week of the awards profiling all our finalists and sponsors ahead of the event.