Saville Menswear ties up Cork Business Award

SAVILLE Menswear won the Cork Business of the Year Award on Saturday night.

Heineken Ireland managing director Gerrit Van Loo sparked off a night of intense celebration when he delivered the judges’ verdict that the Oliver Plunkett Street shop won the coveted accolade.

The store is one of the largest menswear stores in Europe. It beat off competition from the organising committee of the jazz festival, The Moderne and Cummins Sports to win the award.

Jim and Pam O’Regan, the proprietors of Saville Menswear, and their staff jumped with delight when the announcement was made.

The O’Regans were presented with the award at a ceremony held at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel.

Jim O’Regan profusely thanked his staff for their support and said local enterprises should support local businesses.

“Local businesses like the Moderne and Cummins give something special to Cork and I like to think that we are all winners here tonight,” he said.

The announcement followed a record number of nominations this year. The awards, which are sponsored by the Irish Examiner and Heineken Ireland and organised by the Cork Business Association (CBA), are in their fourth year. The CBA is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Mr O’Regan was born in Cork city and left school at 15 to set up his own business. He established a menswear store in the market in Cork and over the years purchased additional buildings to form what is now Saville.

Saville recently opened a franchise Tommy Hilfiger store, which Mr O’Regan said has been a huge success.

Chairman of the judging committee James O’Sullivan said the standard of entries for this year’s competition has been as high as ever.

Other members of the judging committee include Cork City manager Joe Gavin, chairman of Examiner Publications Alan Crosbie, assistant Garda Commissioner Ray McAndrew and trade relations manager with Heineken Ireland John Crowley.