Public urged to vote for Cork's best businesses and events

A Long Table on MacCurtain Street to mark the start of the five-day-long Cork on a Fork food festival. The festival was shortlisted in the Best Festival or Event category.

EHS International, the Cork on a Fork food festival and Dino's Family Chip Shops are some of the companies and events shortlisted for the Cork Business Association's (CBA) annual awards.

The CBA has announced the finalists for the 2025 Business of the Year Awards and is seeking the public's vote to decide the winners.

The winners of the prestigious awards will be announced at the President's dinner at the Vienna Woods Hotel on Saturday, March 29.

The shortlist for each category is now open to a public vote, and the people of Cork are encouraged to vote for who they want to win at www.corkbusiness.ie. Last year 17,500 votes were received.

After the CBA restructured their awards and categories this year, there was a large number of entries that have been shortlisted by the judging panel.

The finalists for this year’s awards are:

Best VFI Pub 

Costigan's Pub 

The Anglers 

Franciscan Well Brewpub 

Best Cork Hotel 

Clayton Silversprings 

Hayfield Manor 

Vienna Woods

Professional Services 

Healy Communications 

KSN Horizon 

Punch Consulting Engineers 

Best Festival or Event 

Cork on A Fork Festival 

Alpine Skate Trail - Cool Running Events 

Cork Craft & Design Fair 

Best in Culture, Arts & Tourism 

Cork Opera House 

Ocean Escapes 

Cork Harbour Cruises 

Best in Retail 

Kilkenny Design 

K O'Connell Fishmongers 

Herlihy's Centra 

Best Cafe 

Perch Coffee & Wine 

Golden Bites 

Ruaris Kitchen 

Best Restaurant 

Moody Cafe Vin 

Farmgate Cafe 

Cornstore Cork 

Best Family Business 

Neville Jewellers 

Dinos Family Chip Shops 

The Flying Enterprise

Best New Business 

EHS International 

RHEA Funeral Care 

Potteria 

Sustainable Business Innovation 

Old Oak 

Orla McAndrew Food Ltd 

Saoirse Ethnic Hands on Deck

The President's dinner includes an address by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, a keynote speech by European Commissioner Michael McGrath and will be hosted by radio presenter and journalist Matt Cooper. The event is in aid of Parentline, and Cork-born CEO Aileen Hickey will present on the evening.

Cork Business Association's Events Committee; Niamh Murphy, Dave O’Brien, Cliona Barnes and Margaret O Regan. Picture: Chani Anderson

The dinner again features a locally sourced menu, created through a unique  collaboration between leading Cork chefs including Pamela Kelly (Farmgate), Nicola Alegre (Cask), Kate Lawlor (O’Connell’s Fishmonger), Claire Nash, Hugh Bailey (Vienna Woods), Paul Ryan, (Cork International),and Alex Petit, (The Metropole), all showcasing local produce.

The awards are judged by an independent panel of business leaders and industry experts - the Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, Deirdre Cole, Fáilte Ireland, Dr Niall O'Keefe, Local Enterprise Office Cork City, Evelyn O'Sullivan, Visit Cork, Martin O Brien, JCD Group,  Terence McSweeney, Elis, Alan Healy, the Irish Examiner, and Dave O Brien, Xeinedin.  The public vote plays a big part in the decision.