Cork Chamber Annual Dinner 2018

More than 1,000 business guests, decision makers and political dignitaries attended the Cork Chamber Annual Awards 2018 on Friday night to celebrate Cork and the achievements of its people.

With a theme of diversity and inclusion, the largest corporate gathering in Munster and the second largest in the country, saw a number of Cork-based businesses recognised for their work in the local and international business community.

Boston Scientific Cork was named overall Cork Company of the Year 2018 as well as Cork Corporate Company of the Year. Accepting the award on behalf of the Model Farm Road company, Sean Gayer, VP of Operations, received a warm reception and standing ovation. He said the award win was fantastic recognition for the team and that it was an honour to be mentioned in the same category as previous winners who have inspired business excellence in the community.

For the first time in the 200 years of Cork Chamber, there was a female keynote speaker – Cork native and President, Communications & Enterprise Compute at Flex Caroline Dowling – who eloquently described the wonderful neighbourly spirit so prevalent in Cork as something that helped her forge an international business career and raise her three children in the close knit and supportive community of Kanturk.

During his address, Cork Chamber President Bill O’Connell spoke about the idea of ‘Corkness’ – that indomitable spirit, positivity and pride unique to Cork and its people. The optimism at Cork City Hall was palpable with guests and speakers looking to the future of Cork with confidence and conviction.

Other winners on the night included EviView, who won the Cork Emerging Company of the Year award, Spearline, which took home the Cork SME Company of the Year prize and Blackpool-based Teamwork.com, which provides a range of operations to help run the businesses of 20,000 customers across 183 international companies, was awarded the Cork Large Company of the Year.

The awards event, which is partnered by the Irish Examiner and run in association with Vodafone Ireland, was deftly MCd by Jonathan Healy and for the first time, was presented in both the Concert Hall and the Millennium Hall.