New Sponsor – Carlow County Council – Announced at Launch in Carlow Town Hall
The Carlow Business Awards were launched in Carlow Town Hall this evening (the 6th May 2026). The awards recognise and reward excellence in businesses of every size, type and stage of development from throughout county Carlow. This year there will be 27 categories – 23 of which are open for nominations.
“We are delighted to announce that Carlow County Council have come on board as the main sponsor for the 2026 Awards. We are thrilled to work in collaboration with the team in the Council to ensure that these awards continue to have a positive impact on the business community – reflecting the excellence, innovation, passion and growth we see in businesses throughout the county, day in day out.” Says Norah Ryan, President of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking about the awards, Cllr. Ken Murnane , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said “the role of the council was to ensure that Carlow is not just a place people live, but a place where businesses can thrive, scale, and succeed. Today’s launch of the County Carlow Chamber Awards is a vital component of that vision and as a Council we are delighted to be the main sponsor of these awards for 2026.
Often, the work of the Council – planning, infrastructure, zoning, and strategic policy – happens behind the scenes. However, our objective remains constant: to provide the ‘enabling environment’ required for your success”.
Welcoming attendees of the launch to the Town Hall, Cllr. Paul Doogue, Mayor of Carlow Municipal District said “The County Carlow Chamber Awards are not just a ceremony or a trophy on a shelf. They are a statement. They are a formal acknowledgment of excellence. They tell the world and more importantly, they tell each other that we value innovation, we value customer service, and we value the resilience required to operate in today’s challenging economic climate.”
Speaking at the launch, Tom Byrne, Joint Managing Director of last year’s overall winner, Burnside Eurocyl, said “As a business that has strong roots in Carlow we were very proud to have been selected as Carlow Business of the Year in 2025. The award recognised the hard work and dedication of our incredible team – and of the vision that we, as a proud Carlow business, have for the future. We found the whole process very positive – reminding us of how far we have come. We strongly encourage other businesses to put their names forward – you won’t regret it.”
What makes these awards truly impactful is that members of the public can get involved – by nominating businesses that they admire, or that they feel are exceptional. This added dimension means that businesses that may not have had the confidence to put their own name forward get the opportunity to shine. County Carlow Chamber are very proud of the fact that this format gives a voice to the whole community – enabling everyone to have their say.
So, if you are a Carlow-based businesses excelling in what you do – get your nomination form in.
And if you are a customer, supplier, friend or family member who knows a great business – nominate them. The recognition will make their day!
To nominate simply go to the Chamber website www.carlowchamber.com and click on the Nominate Now button.