The huge breadth of businesses and SMEs across the country is truly impressive. We were so inspired by the ingenuity and creativity of the people that are doing business in Ireland today. On our winners list, female entrepreneurs and new businesses dominate.
One winner stood out above all the rest for their understanding of social media and how to connect with audiences. As well as winning €1,000 Google Ads credit and an expert consultation, Dóchas Design is the winner of our video content creation kit.
Ciara Stanley of Coppenagh House farm in Tullow runs Ballybar, a unique fashion line. She identified a gap in the market for well-designed, functional clothing aimed at female farmers. Her ecommerce site has already expanded her audience reach from as far afield as the UK, mainland Europe, USA and Canada.
Charlie Horan runs his kayaking and canoeing adventure business on the river Barrow in Co Carlow. He has made a big splash online connecting with people and sharing fun trips with his customers on social media. Having established a presence in the domestic market, he wants to expand to the UK and Europe.
A former dance teacher and mother, Jane Byrne started her business selling dancewear and gymnastics clothing, at the kitchen table. She started her business online in February 2015, with a physical shop following. Currently supplying 20+ dance schools in Ireland, Jane is focussed on using digital to help her break into Northern Ireland and Europe.
Josh O’ Regan is as passionate about cycling as he is about his business, which supplies lightweight mountain and road bicycle parts. Since starting in 2017, JRC has shipped to customers in over 60 countries across the world. With distributors and retailers stocking their products from Australia to Korea and the US, going online was the key to his success.
Three generations on, O’Leary’s photographic shop now operates as a hybrid business. Shane O’Leary’s customers receive the same experience online as in store. On the website, customers can find the same quality of information, advice and friendly service - with blog posts and expert tips. And the team is always a click away to answer questions and share their knowledge.
Carol Feller is the owner of Stolen Stitches — an e-commerce business and yarn studio based in Cork. It sells everything a knitter needs to create exceptional hand knits. She also offers in-depth digital workshops and tutorials, and has grown a vibrant global community of knitters.
Kemtron is a leading manufacturer of gaskets and seals for the pharma and food processing sector. By using Google cloud services, they jointly developed Spear, a technology that helps them negotiate better outcomes with their suppliers. Kemtron’s website is key to their brand identity.
Inspired by her work with elderly care patients and their struggle with clothing, Sarah Timony founded this clothing brand for people with disabilities two years ago. Her customer base is not always very physically mobile, so Sarah put her business online. She intends to grow her brand using social media and Google Ads to connect with her audience.
Sofie Rooney and Garett FitzGerald established Chimac in 2019 after a trip to Korea when they fell in love with Korean fried chicken. Two restaurants later, they have an online presence that allows customers to buy their Chimac range of sauces, and order takeaway which is delivered by the business’ own delivery service.
Tracy Gunn and Michelle O’Keeffe have built an online HR platform for the changing world of work. Platform55 transforms how organisations support modern families, with solutions for leaders, employees and HR. Their self-serve platform gives employees 24/7 access to resources, and provides expert support through live workshops and coaching. They’ve already secured blue chip clients across the US and Europe, and are now aiming to attract new audiences at SME level and beyond.
Sock-obsessives Alex and Joanna set up their sock design and subscription business in Galway several years ago. As well as selling directly to customers, their socks are stocked in 200 plus retailers in Ireland and abroad. They also offer a bespoke design service for global customers. Currently, they’re focused on growing the business across all their customers segments - global B2C, corporate as well as their domestic audience.
The Murrays founded Gran Grans speciality food store in Kilcolgan, Co Galway in 2014. During Covid they pivoted and now sell a lot of their products, such as preserves, chutneys and sauces, on their ecommerce site. They’ve updated their site to improve its searchability. Their use of social media to connect with their audiences is helping them expand their customer base.
An equine business that offers solutions across feed, supplements, a wide range of topical horse products, and modern technologies. ARKequine is not just a retailer. We’re passionate about providing a platform for sharing educational insights from our team of in-house vets and equine experts. Through paid media, ARKequine has reached over 500,000 people on social media and increased their brand awareness significantly.
The Fingleton family set up their glamping business in Cullenagh, Co Laois in 2016. Not in a traditional tourist hotspot, they’ve attracted visitors from all over Ireland with their revamped website. Through its automated booking system, visitors can make bookings 24/7. They are now expanding beyond their current domestic market to target different audiences- such as corporate team building packages and overseas travellers.
Elliot, Breffni and the Kearns team operate Pathfinders in Kinlough, Co Leitrim. Converting customers’ vehicles into bespoke camper vans, the Kearns went online to reach a nationwide audience. They’ve used social media to spread awareness, and a VR tour of their vans which increased customers’ interest during Covid. They are now focussed on using digital to attract an international audience in their unique brand.
Peter Kilmartin founded his video production agency in 2017. His website is his shopfront and he has been leveraging social media, digital marketing techniques, and the site itself to reach a wider audience globally Including— Denmark, Germany and the UK. He’s passionate about his video production business and producing premium video campaigns for global audiences.
Bánór is a new natural skincare brand made using sheep milk supplied by Elaine’s family farm in Tipperary. With a background in the pharmacy and food industry, Nicola Lyons and Elaine Crosse have been developing the business for over 3 years and launched the brand 1 year ago. Through social media and their website, they’ve raised awareness of their product and its unique benefits. They are now concentrating on SEO strategies and channel development to attract future fans.
Anewmum is a range of post-partum comfort and hygiene products to assist mothers after they’ve given birth. Marian created this unique product herself, following her own experiences of childbirth. She launched her brand in 2023 with a beautiful award-winning video campaign across social. Featuring new mums, ‘Storylines’ empowers women to tell their story of birth and post-partum connection with their bodies, and new babies.
Riot Rye Bakehouse and Bread School is a sustainable bread business based in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. Joe and Julie are passionate about creating bread without the use of additives and chemicals. In the last 4 years their online shop has grown by over 100%. They've created a community of bakers online, with free online baking tutorials, in person courses, and a weekly newsletter. They are now hoping to expand their reach further.
Christine Murphy is the woman behind Urban Aran, a slow fashion knitwear brand. A contemporary take on traditional Irish knitwear, the business has built up a customer base by identifying their core audiences and targeting them with Google Ads and engaging social media content. Now stocked by major retailers in Ireland, Christine has her sights set on export markets, and is already selling online to customers in Germany, Holland, UK and the US.
