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Ken O’Leary, Doreen O’Sullivan, Claire O’Connor and Catherine Brosnan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE inaugural Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards took place last night and what an event it was!
The black tie gala ceremony was held in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel and around 350 people witnessed a host of winners receive accolades on the night.
Organized by Margaret Brick, Editor of Connect Magazine, the awards celebrated and recognised the enormous entrepreneurial talent and success of women who both own and manage businesses in Kerry.
The judging panel of Caroline McEnery of the HR Suite, Dr Mary McCaffrey of the Scotia Clinic; Breda O’Dwyer, Manager Ceed at IT Tralee and Teresa Higgins Walker, representing Lee Strand had the unenviable task of selecting the winners.
And those winners are…
Continued below…
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• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Business of Fashion Award – SANDRA RUSK, WEARDROBE
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Business of Beauty Award – MARY O’DONOGHUE, SANCTUARY SPA
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Business of Retail Award – LISA GEANEY, CRAG CAVE
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Business of Health and Fitness Award – AINE FITZGERALD, A FIT BODY GYM KILORGLIN
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Business of Education and Childcare Award – MAIREAD MORIARTY, ASHMORE LEARNING SOLUTIONS
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Food Manufacturing Award – HELEN O’SULLIVAN OF O’SULLIVAN’S BAKERY KILORGLIN
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Women in Technology Award – TESSA DENNISON, DENNISON DESIGN KENMARE
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Retail Manager Award – DEBBIE O’HALLORAN, SPAR OAKPARK
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Hospitality Award – HELEN HEATON, CASTLEWOOD HOUSE DINGLE
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Services Award – MARY B TEAHAN, IRISH DRAIN SERVICES
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Craft and Design Award – MARY J LEEN, STAINED GLASS
• The Lee Strand Connect Kerry Start Up Business Award – LISA HUTCHINSON, JUST FOR YOU GIFTS DINGLE
There was also number of special awards on the night to recognize women who have excelled in the industry.
• The Lee Strand Contribution to Women in business – Liz Maher KBN
• The Ballyroe Heights International Woman of the Year – Catriona O’Callaghan, O’Callaghan Coach Tours
• The Editor’s Choice Award – Valerie Kerins Rose of Tralee International Festival
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand One to Watch – Majella Duignan, Curves
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand Media Support to Women in Business – Fiona Stack, Radio Kerry
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand Business Development Award – Susan Quirke Crowley Mounthawk Montessori.
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand Young Female Entrepreneur Award – Rosaleen Higgins Nana Bees Castleisland
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand Family Business of the Year – Dowling’s Shoes, Tralee
• The Connect Kerry Lee Strand Lifetime Achievement Award – Bernie Falvey, Ballyseedy Garden Centre
Scroll down for photos from the pre-awards reception (we’ll have over 20 more photos tomorrow, images can be bought by calling 087-9384810)…
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Amanda Jones, Rita Fitzgibbon, Edel Lawlor, Clodagh O’Sullivan, Stacey Scannell and Brogan O’Sullivan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Majella Duignan, Rachel O’Sullivan and Eileen Whelan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tommy and Maura Sheehy with Ciara O’Donnell at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Edel O’Donoghue and Marie Baker at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Bernie Lenihan, Edel Lawlor and Catherine Lenihan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Organiser of the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards, Margaret Brick with Jonathan Collins and Mark O’Sullivan of the Ballyroe Heights Hotel at the awards on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Leah Parker Bond, Rebecca Atkinson and Lily Atkinson at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Louise Quilligan and Sandra Horan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
John Drummey with Donna Roche, Juliette O’Connor, Siobhan Dowling, Yvonne Doherty, Mandy McKenzie Vass and John Mulhern of the Bon Secours at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Rosemarie Daly and Niamh McSweeney at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Luke Bradley and Claire O’Sullivan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tara Comerford and Siobhan Sheehy at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tracy Teahan, Catriona Rice, Trisha Dowling, Hazel O’Malley, Helen Geary, Mary Stapleton, Teresa Fitzpatrick, Caroline McEnery and Caroline Sugrue at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Mairead Flaherty, Siobhan Keane and Mary Roche at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kate and David Leen with Mags O’Halloran and Paul Brennan at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Naomi Foley and Nicola Lynch at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Rachel Prendiville, Marian Fitzgerald, Mairead Moriarty and Stephanie Dowling at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Melanie O’Sullivan, Marie Sweeney, Fiona Stack and Tara Donoghue at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Caroline Sugrue, Caroline McEnery and Mary Stapleton at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Claire Murphy, Carol Kennelly and Olivia Wall at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Frank and Frances Harty, Karen O’Connor, Chris Moore, Lisa Martin and Sean Kissane at the Connect Kerry Lee Strand Women in Business Awards at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
