EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme passionately believes in promoting entrepreneurship across the island of Ireland and empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in Ireland, Northern Ireland and around the world.

Related topics Entrepreneurship Growth Family enterprise Start-ups

The team

Roger Wallace

Roger Wallace

EY Ireland Assurance Partner and Head of Entrepreneur of the Year Programme and PMM | EY Private

Clara Carroll

Clara Carroll

EY Associate Director – EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland

Eimear McCrann

Eimear McCrann

EY Ireland Entrepreneur Of The Year Manager

The Unstoppables

Watch "The Unstoppables"

The world’s most unstoppable entrepreneurs reveal insights that can inspire us all to reframe our future. Watch on your local CNBC TV channel or on demand at cbnc.com/unstoppables.

Watch on demand

Meet the entrepreneurs

The Unstoppables - Awards 2021

 
Find Out More About Our Awards and Past Finalists.
 
 
The unstoppables

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme not only ensures national and international recognition for successful finalists and Alumni but also provides an invaluable network and business opportunity within a growing, 550+ strong EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Alumni community.

Recognising the best and brightest

Now in it’s 23rd year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ™ Ireland programme operates across the entire island representing all 32 counties on the island of Ireland.

By participating in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme, entrepreneurs can connect with their peers, access relevant insights to help navigate their growth journey and raise the profile of their companies and teams. Each programme culminates in the announcement of an overall winner who the competes for the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award.

Winner testimonials

2020 Overall Winner – Nicola Mitchell, Life Scientific 

“Entrepreneurs are never satisfied, never feel good enough; so even though I’ve dreamed of winning all my life, it’s not about winning, it’s about the (at times difficult) journey (who likes being judged!) and all the courageous entrepreneurs I’ve met along the way – all of whom inspire me to do better, and especially those unable to do what they do and be who they are, because of COVID.”

2019 Overall Winner – Richard Kennedy, Devenish

“EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the most valuable and enjoyable business network I have ever been part of. To anyone considering getting involved, I would say – go for it! The people you meet, friends you make and experiences you have are truly enriching - it is a unique opportunity to grow, both professionally and personally.”

  • The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2021 Calendar

    27 January Nominations Open
    February   Nominee interviews begin
    16 March  Nominations Close
    March Nominee interviews continue
    April Judging Round 1: New 24 Finalists Selected
    May Finalists Induction Ceremony & Dinner
    June EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2021
    July - September Finalists Entrepreneurial Evolution Sessions and Finalists Filming
    September CEO Retreat
    October  Judging Round 2: Finalists undertake individual interviews with Judging Panel
    11 November  2021 EOY Gala Awards Night

Learn more

Meet Our Previous EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Finalists

  • 2020

    Name

    Company

    Brendan McDowell

    BPerfect Cosmetics

    Devan Hughes

    Buymie

    Gary Wickham

    MagGrow

    John Goulding; Joe Lennon

    Workvivo

    Leonora O’Brien

    Pharmapod

    Matt Cooper

    Inflazome

    Ríona Ní Ghriallais; Conor Harkin

    Proverum

    Dr. Sinéad B. Bleiel

    AnaBio Technologies Ltd

    Antonia Hendron

    M50 Truck and Van Centre

    Cormac McCloskey

    Errigal Contracts Ltd

    Ed Donovan

    Advanced Medical Services

    Frank & Dolores Kiernan

    Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd

    John O’Connell

    West Cork Distillers

    Kevin O’Connor

    General Paints Group

    Paul & Neil Fitzgibbon

    Ard Ri Marble

    Seamus O’Hara

    Carlow Brewing Company

    Andrew Mackin

    Mackin

    Andrew O’Shaughnessy

    Poppulo

    Cathal Friel

    Open Orphan Plc

    Conor O’Loughlin

    Glofox

    Nicola Mitchell

    Life Scientific

    Pat Lucey

    Aspira

    Rodney Lowry

    Lowe Rental Ltd

    Tim Houstoun

    Global Shares

  • 2019

    Name Company
    Una Kearns; Peter Kearns The Institute Of Education
    Triona Mullane mAdme Technologies
    Tom Cronin Rye River Brewing Company
    Timothy McElroy; James McElroy HouseMyDog
    Sonia Deasy Pestle & Mortar
    Simon Murray; Mervyn O'Callaghan Provision Cameramatics
    Shane Evans Scrapinghub
    Richard Kennedy Devenish
    Philip Noone Aalto Bio
    Paul McKenna mac-group
    Patrick Derry DRT (NI) Limited
    Pat McDonagh Supermacs (Holdings) Ltd
    Matt Ryan Press Up Entertainment Group
    Mark Dowds Trov
    Mark Whitaker Johnson & Perrott Ltd
    Lulu O'Sullivan GiftsDirect.com/TheIrishStore.com
    Lily Holmes PB Machine Tech
    Laurence O'Kane IMED Healthcare
    John Mullins Amarenco Solar 
    Ian Nolan; Alex Kelly Brightflag
    Donnacha Hurley Motor Mania Limited
    Brian Leslie Seaquest Systems
    Ashley McCulla McCulla (Ireland) Ltd
    Andrew Day Keywords Studios

  • 2018

    Name Company
    Vicki O'Toole JJ O'Toole Ltd.
    Tony Richardson Venn Life Sciences
    Sandra Whelan; David Whelan VR Education Holdings plc
    Ray Cole Virginia International Logistics
    Rachel Doyle  Arboretum
    Peter Coppinger; Daniel Mackey Teamwork.com
    Peter Keeling Diaceutics 
    Pat Rigney The Shed Distillery of P.J. Rigney
    Pat Lynch; Damien McGovern Compliance & Risks
    Paddy Finn Electricity Exchange 
    P.J. Flanagan H&MV Engineering Limited
    Noel O'Hanlon Genesis Automation
    Mary McKenna Tour America/Cruise Holidays
    Louise  Kennedy Louise Kennedy
    Joe Wiley Amryt Pharma plc
    Gareth  Chambers Around Noon
    Eoin Leonard i3PT Certification
    Elaine  Sullivan Carrick Therapeutics
    Eibhlin Murphy; Áine  Lecky Major Equipment (Intl) Limited
    Dominic  Fitzpatrick The Irish News 
    David Maxwell Boojum
    Darragh McCarthy  FinTrU
    Damien McGovern Compliance & Risks
    Bill Wolsey The Beannchor Group
    Barry Napier Cubic Telecom

  • 2017

    Name Company
    Trevor Annon Mount Charles
    Samuel  Dennigan Strong Roots
    Roisin Callaghan; Jane Gallagher Cogs & Marvel
    Ramona Nicholas Cara Pharmacy
    Patrick McAliskey Novosco
    Patrick McCann Simplyfruit (Ire) Ltd.
    Niamh Sherwin-Barry; Aoife  Lawler The Irish Fairy Door Company
    Niall  McGarry Maximum Media/JOE Media
    Mark Barrett APC
    Louis Keating L&M Keating Ltd.
    Kevin O'Loughlin Nostra
    Jim Burke GoBus.ie
    Jack Teeling Teeling Whiskey Company
    Jack O'Connor; Declan O'Connor BHSL
    Ian  McKenna eLight
    Harry Hughes Portwest
    Gary Irwin; Andrew Irwin Bedeck
    Frances McArdle; Fergus McArdle Height for Hire
    Evelyn  O'Toole CLS
    Darragh Cullen Edge Innovate
    Daithi O'Connor Revive Active
    Ciara  Donlon THEYA Healthcare
    Brendan Monaghan Neueda
    Alan Foy Blueface

  • 2016

    Name Company
    Suresh Tharma; Ashok Songra 3fivetwo Group
    Stephen Smith Kitman Labs
    Stephen Vernon Green Property
    Sean McAllister; Leona McAllister PlotBox
    Paul Quigley; Andrew Mullaney NewsWhip Media
    Noel Moran Prepaid Financial Services and eCOMM Merchant Solutions
    Niall Stringer; Gillian Maxwell Tiger Stores
    Maurice Healy The Healy Group
    MarkMcCloskey Oneview Healthcare PLC
    Louise Grubb Q1 Scientific
    Leslie Codd Codd Mushrooms
    Kieran O'Keeffe MobileWebAdz
    John Moore 3D4Medical
    Jimmy McGee Athlone Extrusions
    Jim Wright JMW Farms
    James Leckey Leckey
    Gavan Walsh iCabbi
    Gareth Loye M&M Contractors
    Eamon Donnelly Uform
    Colin Culliton TPI Group
    Clodagh Cavanagh Abbey Machinery
    Ciara Clancy Beats Medical
    Brian Lee Freshly Chopped
    Brendan Mooney Kainos Group plc

  • 2015

    Name Company
    Terry Knox CD Group
    Sean Brett Steeltech Sheds
    Sean O'Sullivan SOSV
    Ross Kelly; Conor Crowley Vizor
    Paul Young Cartoon Saloon
    Patrick Collison; John Collison Stripe
    Padraig McBride Brandtone
    Morgan Browne Milner Browne
    Michael Hoyne Merlyn
    Michael O'Dwyer TyreCheck
    Kenneth Greene Greene Farm Foods
    Jack Dobson Dunbia
    Graham Stubbs Diona
    Frank  Madden Crest Solutions
    Eoin Goulding Integrity360
    Donald  Fitzmaurice Beechwood Consulting
    Denise Tormey PlanNet21
    Dave O'Flanagan Boxever
    Darragh Richardson Agile Networks
    Catherine O'Neill Amelio Group
    Brian Thornes X-Bolt Orthopaedics
    Ben Harris Drop
    Alyson Hogg Vita Liberata
    Alan Coleman Brite:Bill
    Alan Clarke STATSports Technologies Ltd

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  • Find out more about your local EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program

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    Please check back as new regions will be made available soon.

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