Pictured at the announcement were (from left) Anne Heraty, CEO of CPL Resources Plc and chairperson of the judging panel; Michael Carey, East Coast Bakehouse, judge; and Kevin McLoughlin, partner lead for the programme.

Mayo entrepreneurs are EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalists

THE 24 finalists of the 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ireland programme have been revealed today.

The shortlist includes Mayo-based entrepreneurs Aine Lecky and Eibhlin Murphy, Major Equipment (Intl) Limited.

They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Portwest’s Harry Hughes who was crowned EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017.

Major Equipment (Intl) Ltd has been shortlisted in the International category in recognition of the company’s growth over the past 10 years.

Collectively, the finalists employ more than 2,700 people and generate annual revenues of €150m.

The finalists will compete across three categories - Emerging, Industry and International, with one winner being chosen as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018.

The 24 finalists have been shortlisted from over 110 nominations received from across the island of Ireland by an independent judging panel of previous winners, chaired by Anne Heraty, CEO of CPL Resources Plc, and winner of the 2006 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The year’s finalists will join more than 70 EY alumni for a week of executive education and exclusive corporate insights in Oxford and London in May.