Local enterprises rolled out for national judging
By William O'Connor
MONDAY, September 30, was a big day for Tallaght, when three judges from the Bank of Ireland-sponsored national competition to find Ireland’s most enterprising town, visited to make their assessment.
The Tallaght bid was a collaboration between Partas, South Dublin County Council and Local Enterprise Office, South Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the TU Dublin - Tallaght Campus.
(from left) Bank of Ireland’s Geoff Lynam, Neill O’Reilly, Karena O’Sullivan and Barry Flynn with Mayor of South Dublin Vicki Casserley, Katrina Murphy (Judge), Eddie Breen (Judge), John Kearns (Partas) and Tom Rooney (LEO)
The judging started with a visit to Partas Tallaght Enterprise Centre and lunch at The County Fare where an artisan food and craft market was taking place.
Some 20 producers were displaying and selling their produce – with the judges delighted with the quality and spirit of all the participants.
Next the judges saw a presentation of why Tallaght can lay claim to be Ireland’s Enterprise Town. Some 15 local entrepreneurs testified to how important and empowering Tallaght has been to them.
The group also included a variety of Tallaght’s long-established social enterprises such as Trustus, Partas and An Cosán among others. It proved to be a truly impressive encounter.
The next stop was at the Head Office of Meditech, a major Tallaght success story and now a major exporting business.
The judges also heard from senior executives of some other highly successful large companies based in Tallaght, which, alongside Meditech, included CRH Roadstone, Tallaght University Hospital and the Technological University Dublin campus in Tallaght.
Having proudly shown off Tallaght’s great enterprise culture at local, social and multinational level, it was off for a finale to Tallaght Stadium, where a host of local sporting and cultural groups were on hand to reinforce once more the incredible spirit of Tallaght.
The Tallaght Cancer Survivors Choir and South Dublin Dance Academy joined a large group of community and sporting groups presenting their contribution to the community.
The evening was topped off by the appearance of the Sam Maguire Cup and the Brendan Martin Cup to remind all present of the contribution played by Tallaght in Dublin’s historic 5-in-a-row and 3-in-a-row.
The results of the competition will be announced at a gala awards banquet on November 29.
Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprise Town Awards recognise the spirit of enterprise in local areas across Ireland, bringing business and community groups together to showcase their efforts to build an economically sustainable community.
There are over 40 awards available from a total prize fund of €193,000, with the overall winning town or urban village/area awarded €33,000 and the title of Ireland’s Most Enterprising Town. In 2018 this was won by Letterkenny.
There is also the Rising star category. Last year “The Kells Old Print Works” took home the trophy and €20,000.
Stay tuned to www.bankofireland.com/neta2019 and thinkbusiness.ie for news and updates on National Enterprise Town Awards, including entrants, judges and judging schedule.
