This year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025’s 24 finalists are collectively generating revenues approaching €1bn and employ more than 4,000 people.
The finalists of the 2025 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme have been revealed.
The 24 shortlisted entrepreneurs spanning a range of sectors including consumer, technology, media, health, life sciences, manufacturing and financial services.
“The creation of world class businesses from Ireland has never been more important and our 24 finalists are leading the way”
Collectively this group of world class business leaders are already generating annual revenues approaching €1 billion and employing over 4,000 people.
Pioneering entrepreneurs
“This is the 28th year of the Entrepreneur of the Year programme on the island of Ireland, and with every year the bar is raised higher in terms of the quality of the impressive entrepreneurs that submitted nominations,” said Roger Wallace, partner lead for EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ireland. “I know that our judging panel had a seriously difficult job selecting our 24 incredible finalists.
“From well known and loved consumer brands to pioneering life science and technology businesses, and so much more in between, our finalists lead outstanding businesses creating opportunities and employment across Ireland. The creation of world class businesses from Ireland has never been more important and our 24 finalists are leading the way.
“Our finalists are exploring new markets and technologies to solve challenges and find solutions that will revolutionise their own industries, confirming Ireland’s exceptional reputation as a centre of excellence for innovation and business. I am delighted to formally welcome this year’s 24 finalists into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community and I look forward to working with them closely over the coming months.”
Tight-knit network
Since its inception, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland community has grown to a tight-knit network of more than 650 alumni who harness each other’s wealth of experience, with three quarters (75%) conducting business with one another.
Together, the Entrepreneur of the Year alumni community generates revenues of €25bn, and employs more than 250,000 people across the island of Ireland.
“We were so impressed with the outstanding calibre of all of the nominations received for the programme this year,” said Harry Hughes, chair of the Entrepreneur of the Year judging panel and CEO of Portwest.
“Selecting just 24 finalists was an incredibly challenging task but I am thrilled to congratulate this year’s finalists and extend a very warm welcome into the Entrepreneur of the Year community. An immensely valuable experience now awaits each of them and I wish them every success as they embark on this journey and join this extraordinary group of passionate, courageous individuals who are truly driving Irish entrepreneurship forward.”
The 2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalists
| Emerging | Established | International |
| Alan Doyle of Aerlytix
|
Karl Fitzpatrick of Chevron College | Donnchadh Campbell of Europlan |
| Eoin Cluskey of Bread41
|
Derek Foley Butler of GRID Finance | Conor Buckley of Granite Digital |
| Eddie Dillon of CreditLogic | James Kelly of
LMH Engineering Group |
Seamus Fahey of ICS Medical Devices |
| Laura Dowling of fabÜ
|
William McColgan of
McColgans Quality Foods |
Brendan Noud and Desmond Anderson of LearnUpon
|
| Caitriona Ryan & Nicola Ralph of Institute of Dermatologists
|
Gareth Sheridan of
Nutriband Inc. |
Brian McGrath of MSL Engineering Limited
|
| Liam Dunne of Klearcom
|
Terry Hughes of Pivotal | Martin Tierney of Seating Matters |
| Aidan & Hilary O’Shea of Otonomee
|
Larry Bass of Shinawil | David Corcoran of
Soltec Ireland Ltd |
| Aine Kennedy of
The Smooth Company |
Gary Lavin of VITHIT Drinks
|
Edward McCloskey of
WaterWipes |
Main image at top: (Eimear McCrann, Director, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year; Gareth Sheridan of Nutriband Inc; Laura Dowling of fabÜ; and Roger Wallace, Partner Lead, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. Photo: Naoise Culhane
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