Munster Runner-Up Slot for Castleisland in Enterprise Town Competition

On the rails: Judges, Castleisland Chamber Alliance and Kerry County Council representatives pose at the entrance to the ‘Old Library’ during Enterprise Town judgement day in October.  Included are: Jeremy Burke and Patricia Walsh, PRO and chairperson of Castleisland Chamber Alliance respectively; Tom Hayes, Deirdre Shine and Eddie Breen, judges; Mark McElligott, Castleisland Chamber Alliance and Bridget Fitzgerald, Kerry County Council. ©Photograph: John Reidy 2-10-2018
At Crag Cave at the start of the presentations on Enterprise Towns Judgement Day on Tuesday were : Mark McElligott, Castleisland Chamber Alliance; Susan Murphy, Kerry County Council; Denise Mullane, Bank of Ireland; Eileen O’Donoghue, Kerry County Council; Eddie Breen, judge; Patricia Walsh, Chairperson Castleisland Chamber Alliance; Tom Hayes, judge; Lisa Geaney, Crag Cave; Cllr. John Sheahan Catherlaoich Killarney Municipal District; Deirdre Shine, judge; Deirdre Twomey, Bank of Ireland; Jill Hannon, Castleisland Capital of Fashion; Bridget Fitzgerald, Kerry County Council; Jeremy Burke, Castleisland Chamber Alliance; Maria Ní Cheallaigh, Kerry County Council and Liz Galwey, Castleisland Family Resource Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy 2-10-2018

The Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards Ceremony took place at the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny last night, November 28, 2018.

It was announced there that Letterkenny is the most enterprising town in Ireland.The town was the overall winner of the 2018 Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards.

Letterkenny will now receive a cash prize of €33,000.

80 Towns Involved

Castleisland was one of the 80 towns involved in the competition which was co-ordinated locally by the Castleisland Chamber Alliance.

Castleisland was awarded the runner-up place in Munster with a population of under 3,000.

For its regional runner-up placing – to Cashel, Co. Tipperary – Castleisland received a cash prize of €1,000 and a framed certificate.

The clubs and businesses in the area turned on the style – and it was style with substance – on the day in a rarely seen show of the strength and unity which makes the community tick.

Very Favourable Impression

The judging panel of Deirdre Shine, Tom Hayes and Eddie Breen left with a very favourable impression of the town and its people.

The Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards recognises and rewards towns and villages where businesses and communities come together to showcase the spirit of enterprise in their local area.

The competition carried a total prize fund of €157,000. The overall winner received a cash prize €33,000.

Rising Start Category

For 2018 there was a new Rising Star category with one prize of €20,000 awarded to the winner. This award is for towns or urban areas with unemployment and social exclusion issues.

For example, the towns may have visible derelict or empty buildings or spaces where there are plans to create a place for social, artistic, creative, technological or entrepreneurial activity.

Separate Judging Panel

This award has a separate judging panel from the main competition. A shortlist of five areas, one from each region and one from the cities, will be drawn up based on the submissions and these five will be visited by judges.

The judging started in August and continued until late October, 2018. Over 80 towns were visited by the judges.

The judges visited Castleisland at the start of October and were glowing in their praise of what they found here.

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