Judging panel revealed for prestigious Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards 

Entrepreneurs blazing new trails as well as employees and business owners driving growth and change will be the prime candidates for the coveted Cork Businesswoman of the Year Award, according to the panel of judges whose names have just been announced.

This year’s panel, which includes what has been described as a “powerhouse of expertise and perspective”, is composed of Audrey Houlihan, the regional business development manager at Allied Irish Banks; Jim Barry, the managing director of the Barry Group and Helen Murphy, the senior enterprise development officer for Cork city’s Local Enterprise Office.

The sheer determination of entrants was singled out for praise by Ms Houlihan, for whom this year is the second year she has been named as a judge.

“All of these women have great ideas, but what sets them apart from those of us who have the idea but do nothing about it is their grit and bravery in pursuing their dream and making it reality — I take my hat off to them all,” she said.

Meanwhile Ms Murphy underlined the awards’ importance in recognising the powerful contribution women make to Cork’s economy.

“The Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards are an important platform for women in business to showcase their significant and varied achievements,” she said.

“This is reflected in the quality of the applications and makes our job as judges all the harder.

“LEO Cork City is delighted to be associated with the awards as they celebrate the very best that each woman brings to her business, to her career, and to the overall economic life of Cork.”

The finalists will also be announced at a gala event to be held in the coming weeks.

Tickets are on sale for the awards presentation at the annual dinner of Network Ireland Cork which is to be held on Thursday, May 22, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island.

Winners of the awards last year included Dara O’Shea, who won the Emerging Businesswoman title last year, Orla McAndrew, winner of the Solo Businesswoman and Patricia Macropoulos, the STEM professional winner.