Suits retailer Louis Copeland is among the 24 entrepreneurs shortlisted for the 2022 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year competition.
The finalists from across the island of Ireland will compete across three categories - Emerging, Established and International - and one overall winner will be selected in November.
Roger Wallace, EY’s partner lead for the competition, stated: “From a company that has delivered Europe’s largest windfarms to a family-run tailor that’s been dressing some of Ireland’s most well-known names since the 1930s, to a business leveraging cutting edge AI to unlock the value of data, the scope of the impact that these entrepreneurs have across the island of Ireland is vast.”
The finalists have been shortlisted from over 100 nominations by a judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Anne Heraty, founder of CPL Resources and who was named Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2006.
Heraty commented: “Despite the ongoing difficulties of Covid-19, and more recently the energy and inflation crisis and challenging geopolitical issues, it’s inspiring to see our entrepreneurs as tenacious and relentless as ever in their pursuit to create innovative businesses that benefit Ireland and the wider world.
“This year’s finalists are now part of a special network of like-minded peers, unafraid to disrupt the status quo in a bid to seize new opportunities.”
Celebrating its 25th year in 2022, the EY awards programme has 585 alumni, and three quarters says they conduct business with one another.
The awards judges are Anne Heraty, Denis O’Brien, Edmond Harty, Joe Hogan, Mark Roden, Harry Hughes, Evelyn O’Toole, Richard Kennedy, Jenny Melia, Aimee Connolly, Michael Carey, Jerry Kennelly and Jeremy Fitch.
EOY FINALISTS
Emerging
John Harkin, Alchemy Technology Services
Allan F. Beechinor & Niamh Parker, Altada
Alan Carson, Cloudsmith
Caroline Dunlea, Core Optimisation
Helen Cahill, InvoiceFair
Stephen Nolan, Nutritics
Fionn Lahart & Christoph Hennersperger, One Projects
Evelyn Kelly, Orphan Drug Consulting
Established
Tom O'Connor & Kieran Cusack, Conack Construction
Harriet Dunne, ICE Comfort Slat Mats
Louis Copeland, Louis Copeland & Sons
Andrew Lynas, Lynas Foodservice
Michelle Daly, P&G Cards
Alan Browne, KOREC
Cathal Fay, PrePay Power
Paul Stewart, MyBaggage
International
Justin Lawless, Intact
John T.O'Sullivan, BioAtlantis
Gregory Bradley, BLK BOX
Michael Dixon, Dixon International Transport
Jacqueline O'Reilly, KonFloor
Michael Slein, LED Group ROBUS
Jamie O'Rourke, Mainline
Martin McKay, Texthelp
Aidan Corbett & Jack Pierse, Wayflyer
Photo (l-r): Shortlisted EOY finalists Cathal Fay and Helen Cahill with Roger Wallace and Jenny Melia of Enterprise Ireland