Cork City Business Set for National Enterprise Awards Final
16/06/2026
A Cork City business is set to compete with the country’s best small businesses as one of the Finalists for the National Enterprise Awards taking place next week.
Blarney Brewing Company (www.blarneybrewing.ie) will represent Local Enterprise Office, Cork City at the prestigious Awards that take place on Thursday 18th June in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Founded in 2023, Blarney Brewing Company was built on a simple belief: great beer should be approachable and enjoyable, and the brewery is now leading the way in sustainable brewing, supplying a range of high quality craft beers to Irish and export markets. Blarney Brewing Company aims to operate an off-grid zero waste production facility by 2029, producing the world’s most sustainably produced beer.
Founder Pat Falvey explains: “We combine time-honoured brewing techniques with contemporary flavours to create honest, easy-drinking beers that appeal to everyday beer lovers. Each brew reflects our heritage, our landscape, and the community we’re proud to be part of.” Its portfolio currently includes Hydro Lager, Hydro Lite, Muskerry IPA, Pale Irish Ale, Mahony’s Red Ale and the Blarney Squared seasonal range. To support its continued growth and nationwide expansion, Blarney Brewing company has recently appointed Coman’s Beverages, Ireland’s largest drinks distributor, as its national distribution partner. This appointment will facilitate the rollout of the brewery’s canned range to retail multiples and off-licence outlets across the country.
Speaking ahead of the Awards this week, Pat says they are “incredibly proud and deeply honoured to be part of the Local Enterprise Office National Enterprise Awards 2026. To be recognised alongside so many innovative and ambitious Irish businesses is a tremendous privilege. This acknowledgement reflects the dedication, passion, and hard work of our entire team, as well as the continued support of our customers, partners, and local community. As a proud Irish brewery, we are committed to showcasing the quality, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that exists within our sector. We are grateful to LEO Cork City for this opportunity and are delighted to represent our region on the national stage.”
This is the 26th year of the Local Enterprise Office initiative, which was won last year by health tech business, SPRYT, supported by Local Enterprise Office, Monaghan. Set up in 2022 by Neill Dunwoody and Daragh Donohue, their AI-powered virtual receptionist is helping to revolutionise patient engagement for healthcare providers across the globe utilising WhatsApp and SMS communication.
This year there is a wide variety of finalists competing for the title of National Enterprise of the Year. Some of those include The Smooth Company, founded by 2025 EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Áine Kennedy, Sugar Plum Sweetery, founded by Denise Buckley and David Quirke who have been at the forefront of recent confectionary trends creating Ireland’s first Dubai Chocolate Bar and Seed Golf, founded by Dean Klatt, who have become the first Irish company to design and sell high performance golf balls.
The Finalists also include a software platform that helps hotels to fix guest problems before they become damaging reviews (I Left You a Note), Ireland’s first liquid seaweed food supplement (Óir Tonics), an AgTech company that can capture damaging animal emissions in sheds and turn it into a by-product for biogas and SAF production for farmers (I/O Agri).
International war crimes lawyer Joanne Frivet is shortlisted for her company, LegalMoov which helps individuals and SMEs in Ireland find the correct lawyer for their legal position, while RYSE Chocolate, founded by Ian O’Rourke and David Stone, have created a caffeinated chocolate energy bar and are also one of the 31 Finalists for the Awards that take place on the 18th June in Dublin.
Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said at the announcement; “The National Enterprise Awards provide us with an opportunity to celebrate the very best of Irish entrepreneurship. Looking through the list of finalists for this year, you can see a significant variety of sectors and business ideas, from Health and Beauty to AgTech, from Software to Food and Drink.
“Each one of these finalists has the potential to scale, create jobs in their communities and make a significant impact internationally. These awards highlight the amazing businesses that are starting and growing across the country year on year, and we should be extremely proud of the level of founders that Ireland is producing. The previous winners and indeed finalists have shown the calibre of these Awards, and it’s exciting to see where these businesses can and will go in the future.”
Dr. Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cork City: The National Enterprise Awards are a great way to shine a light on some of the very best businesses being supported by the Local Enterprise Offices. LEO Cork City is delighted to be represented by Blarney Brewing Company at the Awards this year. A young business, growing rapidly, with an eye on the future. I would like to wish them the very best of luck on Thursday night in the Mansion House.
The Finalists compete for a total prize fund of €80,000 and along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a Digital Award, a Green Award and a Female Entrepreneur Award.
There will also be an Outstanding Achievement Award presented on the night to an Irish business who started with the support of their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international success.
The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day, and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses. For more information see www.LocalEnterprise.ie
ENDS