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Martin O’Reilly wins Best Young
Entrepreneur
07.05.19
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BALLYBOFEY businessman
Martin O’Reilly, has said he was absolutely
delighted to have been named overall winner of the
Donegal final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur
last week. The former Donegal player was also winner
of the best start-up business category at the 5th
annual awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel,
Letterkenny. |
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Winner in the Best Start Up category
and overall winner, Martin O’Reilly, O’Reilly Sports
receives his award from Eve Anne McCarron, business
advisor at Local Enterprise Office, Donegal and
Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, Seamus
Neely. |
Speaking after the
awards, Martin O’Reilly who runs O’Reilly Sports
with his brother Steven, said he was absolutely
thrilled.
“I am absolutely delighted to have won Ireland’s
Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Competition in
Donegal. I really want to say a huge thank you to
all our customers who have been with us from the
beginning. Without you, this would not have been
possible.” |
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Runner Up in the Best Start Up
category, Laura Bonner, Muff Liquor Company receives
her award from Eve Anne McCarron, business advisor
at Local Enterprise Office, Donegal and Chief
Executive of Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely. |
Runner up in the start
up category was Inishowen’s Laura Bonner who
co-founded The Muff Liquor Company in 2017. They
produce award winning premium, distilled spirits and
launched their flagship product Muff Irish Potato
Craft Gin in 2018.
Head of Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney not
only congratulated all of the winners and finalists,
but also had words of praise for all 56 applicants
to the Donegal competition this year.
“The objective of this national competition is to
develop the skills and capacity of these young
entrepreneurs and progress the potential of these
small and micro enterprises. These enterprises and
individuals play a vital role in our economy, both
locally and nationally,” he said. |
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Runner Up in the Best Idea category
Paul McLaughlin, Better Milk receives his award from
Eve Anne McCarron, business advisor at Local
Enterprise Office, Donegal and Chief Executive of
Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely. |
Carndonagh’s Paul
McLaughlin was named runner-up in the best new idea
category with his idea to produce hypoallergenic
infant milk formula in Donegal for babies and young
children suffering from cow’s milk intolerance due
to the protein composition.
The 14 finalists come from across the county from a
diverse range of businesses. They were: Lorraine
Gallagher - Carrigart, Rakesh Kumar - Donegal Town,
Hithesh Shaji - Stranorlar, Paul McLaughlin -
Carndonagh, Peter Reynolds - Letterkenny, Kealan
McLaughlin - Letterkenny, Laura Bonner - Moville,
Aidan Friel - Kerrykeel, Philip Graham - Letterkenny,
Martin O’Reilly - Ballybofey, Barry Walsh -
Ballyliffin, Fiona Murphy - Letterkenny, Siobhan
Boyle - Letterkenny and Catriona McGinley - Kilcar.
The Donegal winners will now progress to represent
Donegal at the Regional Finals to be held in Leitrim
in June. |
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