ARKLOW & DISTRICT CHAMBER BALL AWARDS CEREMONY 2016
FRIDAY 16th SEPTEMBER IN THE ARKLOW BAY HOTEL
A great night of Arklow celebration was enjoyed by over 200 people at the Arklow & District Chamber Ball Business & Community Awards on Culture night last Friday in the beautiful ballroom of the Arklow Bay Hotel.
Ann McGovern, Chamber President welcomed all five TD’s for County Wicklow including both Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., the key note speaker and Minister of State, Andrew Doyle T.D., along with Pat Casey T.D., Stephen Donnelly T.D. and John Brady T.D. Bryan Doyle, CO Wicklow County Council, attended with Pat Fitzgerald, Caothairleach of Wicklow Co Council and Caothairleach of Arklow Municipal District, Pat Kennedy as well as Councillor Tommy Annesley and Councillor Sylvester Bourke.
Simon Harris paid a warm tribute to the Nominees and Award Winners at the South Wicklow Gala night of celebration acknowledging all who have contributed so positively to supporting business and community development for the future of South Wicklow and Arklow in particular.
He confirmed that following ongoing local representation, particularly from Arklow Chamber, the Government is fully committed to the necessary infrastructural needs of the area and confirmed that recent achievement s have included ring fenced funding for the Flood Relief scheme, the successful delivery of the new Arklow Library adding to the quality of services on the main street, where work on a Primary Health Care Centre is ongoing. He confirmed that Arklow was well on track for future growth and business development which he is fully supportive of and, to the delight of our Arklow Music & Arts group, he confirmed that he would support the campaign by Arklow Music & Arts for a theatre in Arklow to support the wealth of talent in the area as well as bringing commercial life to the centre of the town.
He congratulated Ann McGovern, President of the Chamber, on the purchase by the Chamber of the old Printworks Abbey Lane for the development of a Heritage Centre in order to further tourism initiatives and Arklow town renewal. He acknowledged the work of all on the Chamber Council in delivering support for the Business Community in South Wicklow during 2016.
The photograph on the left is what we believe to be the first ever picture of all five Wicklow T.D’s. Pictured are:
Pat Casey T.D.; John Brady T.D.; Colm Moules (Arklow Seabreeze Festival Committee); Yvonne Kenny (AMA); Chamber President Ann McGovern; Minister Simon Harris T.D.; Minister Andrew Doyle T.D.; Stephen Donnelly T.D.
Arklow Youth Mental Health and AMA, the nominated causes during the event, will each receive a donation of €635 – thanks to everyone who donated on the night.
AWARD WINNERS
The Person of the Year Award sponsored by Servier (Ireland) Industries Ltd
Winner : Ann Walker
Best New Start-up Sponsored by Allied Irish Bank
Winner : Orla’s Kitchen
Best Established Business Sponsored by Arklow Business Enterprise Centre
Winner : M.A. Healy & Sons Ltd
The Service Excellence Award sponsored by Elavon Merchant Services
Winner : Blueprint
The Young Achiever Award sponsored by Bank of Ireland
Winner : Kim Sweeney
Ambassador for Tourism Award sponsored by Arklow Bay Hotel
Winner : Arklow Seabreeze Festival Committee
The Employee of the Year Award sponsored by Bridgewater Shopping Centre
Winner : Cathy Guerin (Arklow Business Enterprise Centre)
ARKLOW ENTERPRISE TOWN
Arklow Enterprise Town is taking place in St Marys College, Arklow on Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October.
Enterprise Town is a FREE event and represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase local businesses, clubs & societies as well as our local schools to potential new customers or new members.
To be part of this initiative please contact your local Bank of Ireland branch, or email derek.tobin@boi.com to be added to the participants listing. You do not have to be a customer of Bank of Ireland.
WOODENBRIDGE HOTEL FUNDRAISER IN AID OF ST JOHN’S WARD
The Woodenbridge Hotel hosting a fundraiser for the St johns Ward, which is the children’s cancer ward in Crumlin hospital, on the 23rd of September at 8pm. This fundraiser is being run in the name of a little seven year old girl called Annie who is currently being treated on this ward. Tickets are €35 per person and every cent raised at the function will go to the charity. Tickets can be purchased at the hotel and tables can be reserved in advance. The evening will include food, entertainment and lots more. For full details of the event see poster below.
FREE ENGLISH CLASSES
County Wicklow Partnership supports Failte Isteach Conversational English classes; Migrants with different levels of English are welcome to join the classes which will run regularly on a weekly basis. Arklow classes starting Monday September 26th, 7-9pm in County Wicklow Partnership, Third Floor, Avoca River House, Bridgewater Centre, Arklow.
SING FOR FUN
These weekly singalong sessions for females of all musical backgrounds and none, is recommencing on September 19th upstairs in Christy Lounge, Arklow. Following a very enjoyable and successful year the word has spread and already numbers have grown for September.
