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Area Diaspora Award from an MJM Marine representative on behalf of the Rooney
Family - Pennsylvania, USA at the Chamber's Greater Newry Business Awards.
Over 400 people gathered at the Canal Court Hotel & Spa on Friday 19th September to celebrate the cream of local business talent at the 10th Greater Newry Business Awards. The glittering gala ceremony recognised 25 individuals and organisations across the district, with standout wins for Jacinta Linden of Bolster Community and the Rooney Family who hailed from The Meadow in Newry who own the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The biennial awards, which have been running since 2004, have established themselves as the premier celebration of business excellence across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. This year's event was backed by principal sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and NIE Networks, alongside 24 category sponsors, with Newry Chamber organising the prestigious ceremony.
presents Mairead McParland, Canal Court Hotel with the award for the Best Tourism
Business. Photograph: Colum Lynch Photography
The big individual honours went to some familiar local names, with Jacinta Linden, CEO of Bolster Community, taking home the 'Outstanding Contribution to the Greater Newry Area' award. The 'Greater Newry Area Diaspora Award' was presented to the Rooney Family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers, recognising their continued connection to the area.
Sarah McAvoy from The Whistledown Hotel claimed the 'Best Businesswoman' award, whilst the 'Best Businessman' gong went to Colm Gribben from Viltra. There was also a special Social Enterprise Recognition Award presented to the People of Newry to mark 50 years since the formation of Work In Newry (W.I.N.).
The ceremony also saw Women's Aid Armagh Down, the leading agency in tackling domestic and sexual abuse, receive recognition as 'Best Charity'. The organisation, which is Newry Chamber's charity partner for 2025, benefited from the evening's charity raffle which raised over £5,000 through the generosity of those attending.
Greater Newry Business Awards. Columba O'Hare, Newry.ie, sponsor is pictured
presenting the award to Claire McCutcheon and Sam Przemyslaw Zysk from Synge
& Byrne. Photograph: Colum Lynch Photography
Other notable winners on the night included DELI LITES Ireland, who had a particularly successful evening taking home both the 'Best Green Business' and 'Best Export Business' awards. Jack Murphy Jewellers also proved their excellence by winning both 'Best Use of Digital Marketing' and 'Best Customer Service (Independent Retailer)'. Canal Court Hotel & Spa, the evening's venue, claimed the 'Best Tourism Business' award.
In the young entrepreneur categories, Caoimhe Toner from Water Solutions Ireland Ltd was named 'Best Young Businesswoman', whilst Patrick Mackin from Mackins Accident Repair Centre Ltd took the 'Best Young Businessman' award. Mackins also went on to win 'Best Small Business', showing the strength of their operation across multiple areas.
Concept Occupational Health was recognised as 'Best New Business', The Exact Group claimed 'Best Manufacturing & Engineering Business', and Health Matters Occupational Health won 'Best Professional Services Business'. In the hospitality sector, The Oliver was named 'Best Place to Eat (Licensed)' with Synge & Byrne taking the unlicensed category.
S&W Wholesale was recognised as the 'Best Place to Work', MJM Marine won 'Best Apprenticeship Employer', Shelbourne Motors claimed 'Best Family Business', and The Whistledown Hotel rounded off their successful night by also winning 'Best Business in the Community'. Armatile Ltd took home the 'Best Customer Service (Multiple Retailer)' award, whilst Environmental Products and Services Ltd was named 'Best Innovative Business'.
the Newry Chamber Greater Newry Business Awards. Eamonn Connolly from Newry
BID, sponsors is pictured presenting the award to Shaun Doran, Health Matters
Director. Photograph: Colum Lynch Photography
Edwina Flynn, President of Newry Chamber, reflected on what has been a challenging period for local businesses. "The awards last took place in September 2023 and the 26 months since then, has undoubtedly been an incredibly testing period for local businesses, across the district. However, from the 200+ entries received, we can clearly see the local economy is being driven by many successful, ambitious and talented businesses who call this region home," she commented.
Flynn praised the resilience shown by the local business community, adding: "The strength of this year's awards illustrates a determined, resilient and confident local business community, focused on creating jobs and generating wealth and prosperity for our region. I want to congratulate all the winners, highly commended and finalists and thank everyone who took the time to enter this year's awards."
She concluded by highlighting the area's business credentials: "The Greater Newry Area is recognised as a place synonymous with entrepreneurship, innovation, excellent service, product quality and customer care. This year's awards have recognised the very best that this region's local business community has to offer. As a Chamber, we were delighted to be able to organise these prestigious awards and showcase Greater Newry's Greatest."
WINNERS
- Social Enterprise Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Newry & Mourne Co-operative and Enterprise Agency
WINNER - The People of Newry & Mourne Celebrating 50 Years Since the Formation of
Work In Newry (W.I.N.)
- Best Charity
Sponsored by AAB Group
WINNER - Women's Aid Armagh Down
- Best Green Business
Sponsored by Canal Court Hotel & Spa
WINNER - DELI LITES Ireland
- Best Tourism Business
Sponsored by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
WINNER - Canal Court Hotel & Spa
- Best Use of Digital Marketing
Sponsored by Brilliant Red Digital
WINNER - Jack Murphy Jewellers
- Best Customer Service (Multiple Retailer)
Sponsored by The Quays Shopping Centre
WINNER - Armatile Ltd
- Best Innovative Business
Sponsored by Norbrook Laboratories
WINNER - Environmental Products and Services Ltd
- Best Export Business
Sponsored by InterTradeIreland
WINNER - DELI LITES Ireland
- Best Young Businesswoman
Sponsored by O'Hare & McGovern
WINNER - Caoimhe Toner, Water Solutions Ireland Ltd
- Best Young Businessman
Sponsored by O'Hare & McGovern
WINNER - Patrick Mackin, Mackins Accident Repair Centre Ltd
- Best New Business
Sponsored by Brown & Brown
WINNER - Concept Occupational Health
- Best Manufacturing & Engineering Business
Sponsored by Collins Aerospace
WINNER - The Exact Group
- Best Small Business
Sponsored by Newry Reporter
WINNER - Mackins Accident Repair Centre Ltd
- Best Professional Services Business
Sponsored by Newry BID
WINNER - Health Matters Occupational Health
- Best Customer Service (Independent Retailer)
Sponsored by S&W Wholesale
WINNER - Jack Murphy Jewellers
- Best Place to Eat (Licensed)
Sponsored by AbbeyAutoline
WINNER - The Oliver
- Best Place to Eat (Unlicensed)
Sponsored by Newry.ie
WINNER - Synge & Byrne
- Best Place to Work
Sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK
WINNER - S&W Wholesale
- Best Apprenticeship Employer
Sponsored by Southern Regional College
WINNER - MJM Marine
- Best Family Business
Sponsored by AIB
WINNER - Shelbourne Motors
- Best Business in the Community
Sponsored by Newry Credit Union
WINNER - The Whistledown Hotel
- Best Businesswoman
Sponsored by Jack Murphy Jewellers
WINNER - Sarah McAvoy, The Whistledown Hotel
- Best Businessman
Sponsored by Newry Democrat
WINNER - Colm Gribben, Viltra Ltd
- Greater Newry Area Diaspora Award
Sponsored by MJM Marine
WINNER - The Rooney Family - Pennsylvania, USA
- Outstanding Contribution to the Greater Newry Area
Sponsored by The Exact Group
WINNER - Jacinta Linden, Bolster Community
The evening demonstrated that despite the challenges of recent years, the Greater Newry business community continues to thrive and innovate. With over 200 entries received for this year's awards, it's clear that local entrepreneurs and established businesses alike are driving forward with ambition and determination, creating jobs and prosperity across the district whilst maintaining the area's reputation for business excellence.
