The Begin Together Awards fund is part of wider €1 million Bank of Ireland support for local enterprise and community groups this year.
Bank of Ireland has announced its 20 finalists for the 2020 Begin Together Awards.
The 2020 Begin Together Awards, which is now in its fifth year and was previously titled the National Enterprise Town Awards, recognise business and community groups who have come together to support their local area as they start to rebuild and recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Begin Together Awards fund is part of wider €1 million Bank of Ireland support for local enterprise and community groups this year.
Most Enterprising Town
A total awards prize fund of over €200,000 is available to finalists to help reboot local economies across the island of Ireland. 21 awards are involved with the overall winner receiving €50,000/or sterling equivalent and the title of Ireland’s ‘Most Enterprising Town’. There is also a prize of €20,000/or sterling equivalent for the winner of the Rising Star award.
“We have seen that incredible and powerful things can be achieved when communities, business groups and local authorities come together to meet their own challenges and make their own opportunities”
Of the 20 finalists, Dublin’s Grafton Quarter, Tallaght and Inchicore/Kilmainham have made the final 20, while Clonbur, Cardonagh, Ballina and Sligo in Connacht/Ulster have also been selected. From the wider Leinster region, Granard, Blessington, Carlow and New Ross all managed to impress the judges to make the final 20.
In Munster, Clonakilty, Tramore, Ennis, Kinsale, Kilrush and Cahersiveen are also finalists in this year’s Begin Together Awards.
This year is also the first year where towns and cities from all across the island of Ireland will compete in the competition, with three towns from Northern Ireland amongst the finalists announced. The towns making up the final 20 are Newry, Enniskillen and Dromore.
“Through these awards we are supporting businesses and communities across Ireland that were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as they start to rebuild and get back on their feet,” says Karen Cunningham, head of Dublin City at Bank of Ireland.
“We have seen that incredible and powerful things can be achieved when communities, business groups and local authorities come together to meet their own challenges and make their own opportunities,” she added.
For more information on this year’s Begin Together Awards and for a breakdown of the categories, please click here.
By Stephen Larkin
Published: 9 September, 2020
