EY names 24 finalists for Ireland entrepreneur award

EY has named 31 entrepreneurs from 24 companies as finalists in its 2026 Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme. The shortlist spans the island of Ireland and covers three award categories.

The finalists come from sectors including consumer, technology, health and construction. Together, their businesses employ more than 3,000 people and generate close to €1 billion in revenue.

The programme is divided into Emerging, Established and International categories, with eight companies shortlisted in each. The line-up includes founders and executives from businesses such as SISTERLY, Xtremepush, StormHarvester, Manna Air Delivery, Spanish Point Technologies, Neurent Medical, Taoglas and Inscribe.

In the Emerging category, those selected include Aoife Matthews, Jennifer O'Connell and Louise O'Riordan of SISTERLY, Bobby Healy of Manna Air Delivery, Brian Shields of Neurent Medical, Danny Buckley of ADHDNow, Dr Harriet Tracey of Beyondbmi, Jennifer Rock of skingredients, Laura McCarthy of Drink Botanicals Ireland and Trevor Casey of EPH Controls.

The Established category features Tommy Kearns of Xtremepush, John Corley of Spanish Point Technologies, David Brennan of Eastgate Engineering, Karl Zimmerer of Glanua, Oltian Dervishi of Forte Pespa, Paul Vallely and Clare Walsh of Kukoon, Robin Jones of Golden Bake and Ronan and Conor Burke of Inscribe.

International finalists are Brian Moloney of StormHarvester, Chris Horgan of Dexgreen, John Lunn of Lunn's, Dermot O'Shea of Taoglas, Ian Morgan and Sanjay Abraham of XPress Healthcare, Maire Claire Reid of TST Group, Paul, Gary and Mike Martin of Martin Group and Liam Kearney of The Revive Group.

Long-Running Scheme

This year marks the 29th edition of the Ireland programme. More than 680 entrepreneurs have taken part since it began, forming an all-island network focused on collaboration and peer learning.

An independent judging panel made up of previous winners selected the finalists. It is chaired by Harry Hughes, chief executive of Portwest and chair of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year judging panel.

Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland, said this year's cohort reflects a more volatile trading environment shaped by geopolitical tension, advances in artificial intelligence and economic uncertainty.

"Entrepreneurship in 2026 looks very different to even a few years ago. We are operating in a world shaped by geopolitical instability, rapid advances in AI and a level of economic uncertainty that demands creativity as much as resilience. Our finalists this year have not only adapted to this environment, but are shaping it.

"The 2026 cohort brings together entrepreneurs who are rethinking the possibilities of technology, from building standout consumer brands and advancing health and life-sciences innovation, to delivering smarter construction and infrastructure solutions and creating entirely new business models from the ground up. They are creating jobs, solving complex challenges and opening doors to opportunities that did not exist before.

"The ingenuity and ambition we see across these 24 finalists reminds us why backing entrepreneurs matters now more than ever. They push boundaries, they take risks and they create the conditions for Ireland to thrive in a volatile world. I am genuinely excited to welcome them into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community and to support their journeys in the months ahead," Wallace said.

Judging Process

Hughes said the panel weighed businesses from established industries alongside companies in newer fields that have emerged rapidly in recent years. He said narrowing the field to 24 finalists was difficult.

"This year's judging process reminded us just how rapidly the world is changing for entrepreneurs and the environment they are operating in has changed even in the past 18 months alone.

"Selecting just 24 finalists was an exceptionally difficult task. The entrepreneurs we met represent both long-established sectors and fast-emerging fields, but all of them are reshaping their industries with new ideas and new ways of working, and are turning challenges into opportunity.

"I am delighted to congratulate the 2026 finalists and welcome them into the EOY community. An invaluable experience now awaits them, one that will challenge, inspire and connect them with peers who are equally committed to shaping Ireland's future in an unpredictable world," Hughes said.

The programme has become a prominent fixture in Ireland's business awards calendar, particularly among founder-led companies and private businesses seeking peer recognition. This year's shortlist reflects the continued spread of entrepreneurial activity beyond technology into manufacturing, food, engineering, healthcare and consumer brands.

It also underlines the role of entrepreneurship in the Irish economy at a time when many businesses are under pressure from slower global growth, supply chain disruption and changing market conditions. With companies from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland included, the finalists show the geographic reach of businesses now competing for national recognition.

Collectively, the employment and revenue figures point to the scale reached by companies associated with the programme, from younger businesses still establishing themselves to larger firms with international operations.