Organised by Dundalk Chamber and sponsored by Dundalk Chamber Skillnet, the Louth Business Awards were free to enter and open to all organisations, both small, micro and large, who do business in Louth. The awards afford businesses with the opportunity to showcase their successes and gain valuable recognition on a larger stage.

With twenty categories featuring a diverse range including Overall Business of the Year and Lifetime Award for contribution for Louth, all business sectors, private, public and charity in the Northeast region of Louth were invited to participate. The winners where announced at the Awards Gala Dinner which took place on Saturday the 19^th October in the Carrickdale Hotel.

Overall Business of the Year

Sponsored by Vhi Healthcare

WINNER – WuXi Biologics

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by Paypal

RECIPIENT – Tom McArdle, Carlingford Adventure Centre

Best Customer Service in the Retail Sector

Sponsored by Net1.ie

Finalists – Allcare Pharmacy Carlingford, KT Travel, Lallys Electrical, Maxol Dublin Rd.

WINNER – Lallys Electrical

Best Shop Front both Interior & Exterior

Sponsored by AV Direct

Finalists – Country Fresh Flowers, Diamond Jewellers, National Tile, The Rabbit Hole Cafe

WINNER – National Tile

Best Licensed Premises

Sponsored by Diageo

Finalists – Blue Anchor, Gateway Hotel, Lumpers Bar, The Neptune

WINNER – Blue Anchor

Best Cafe Award

Sponsored by Dundalk Stadium

Finalists – Coast & Co., Custom Coffee, Rocksalt, Ruby Ellens Tearooms

WINNER – Coast & Co.

Best Hair & Beauty Award

Sponsored by L’Oreal

Finalists – Colorcode, Glitter Girls Beauty, Peter Mark, Standout Styling

WINNER – Colorcode

Culture, Heritage & Tourism Award

Sponsored by Value Centre Cash & Carry

Finalists – An Tain Arts Centre, Carlingford Adventure Centre, Carrickdale Hotel, Dundalk Stadium, Fairways Hotel

WINNER – Carlingford Adventure Centre

Best Family Business

Sponsored by Prometric

Finalists – Carrickdale Hotel, Eco Energy Improvements Ltd., National Tile, Sean Moriarty Transport Ltd.

WINNER – Sean Moriarty Transport Ltd.

Best Place to Work Award

Sponsored by Oriel Hub

Finalists – Osborne, Prometric, Rocksalt Cafe, Suretank Ltd.

WINNER – Rocksalt Cafe

Best Professional Service Award

Sponsored by Permanent TSB

Finalists – ECC Design & Engineering Ltd., Irish Life Customer Contact Centre, Staffline Recruitment, UHY Farrelly Dawe White Ltd.

WINNER – UHY Farrelly Dawe White Ltd.

Best Start Up

Sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Louth

Finalists – Carlichauns Entertainment, Deedee Clothing, Finotor, Mojo & Co.

WINNER – Mojo & Co.

Community Achievement Award

Sponsored by Dundalk Credit Union

Finalists – Dundalk Tidy Towns, Dundalk Womens Shed, Irish Wheelchair Association Dundalk, SOSAD Ireland

WINNER – Dundalk Tidy Towns

Green Champion

Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland

Finalists – Anglo Printers, KTF Housing Ltd., McArdle Skeath, Suretank Ltd.

WINNER – Suretank Ltd.

Best Online Presence

Sponsored by Carrickdale Hotel

Finalists – Airsoft Eire/Eire Hobbies, Caroline Duffy Design, Coast & Co., Mark Duffy Photography

WINNER – Caroline Duffy Designs

Employee Health & Wellbeing Award

Sponsored by Servisource

Finalists – Anord Mardix, Irish Life Customer Contact Centre, McArdle Skeath, WuXi Biologics

WINNER – Irish Life Customer Contact Centre

Outstanding SME Business

Sponsored by AIB Bank

Finalists – Anglo Printers, Bryan Lynch Salad, Carlingford Oyster Company, KUKA Robotics (Ireland) Ltd.

WINNER – Bryan Lynch Salad

Technology, Research & Innovation Award

Sponsored by Regional Development Centre at DKIT

Finalists – Digital Design & Consultancy Ltd., Easydry, Heart Rhythm Ireland, XOCEAN.

WINNER – Digital Design & Consultancy Ltd.

Training Award

Sponsored by Dundalk Chamber Skillnet

Finalists – Prometric, Servisource, UHY Farrelly Dawe White Ltd., WuXi Biologics

WINNER – WuXi Biologics

Large Business of the Year

Sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Finalists – Great Northern Distillery, KTF Housing Ltd., WuXi Biologics, XOCEAN.

WINNER – Great Northern Distillery

Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Gent

Sponsored by Mizu & Tony McDonnell Menswear