Cork entrepreneurs vie for national titles

Three Cork-based entrepreneurs will compete at the annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards next week.

Now in its 28th year, the awards will be hosted at the Powerscourt Hotel in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on November 27.

The three entrepreneurs from Cork will compete alongside 20 other finalists under three categories: Emerging, Established, and International, with one overall winner being named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025.

The Cork-based finalists, competing for the title are: Brian McGrath of MSL Engineering Limited in the International category; Aidan and Hilary O’Shea of Otonomee in the Emerging category; and Conor Buckley of Granite Digital in the International category.

Finalists at the awards span a range of sectors including consumer, technology, media, health, life sciences, manufacturing and financial services.

A special Sustainability Award will also be presented to the finalist who is making the biggest contribution towards environmental sustainability through their business. A Special Recognition Award will also be presented on the night.

The overall winner will represent Ireland at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monaco, in June.

Roger Wallace, head of assurance at EY said this year’s finalists from Cork: “Embody the strength and diversity of entrepreneurship in the region”.

“As the awards night approaches, we reflect on an extraordinary journey for this year’s finalists,” said Mr Wallace.

“They’ve shared their stories, challenged themselves, and embraced every aspect of the programme, from the week-long CEO retreat in Japan, to connecting with our wider EOY community.

“From customer experience outsourcing to digital innovation and engineering excellence, Cork’s finalists embody the strength and diversity of entrepreneurship in the region, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make later this month.”