Fernhill House Hotel crowned Overall West Cork Business of the Year
FERNHILL House Hotel in Clonakilty has been crowned Overall Business of the Year for 2023 at the Southern Star's 'West Cork Business & Tourism Awards'.
The announcement was made by Jason Hawkins, chief executive officer of Carbery and Seán Mahon, managing director of Southern Star Media at a packed gala luncheon in the West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen on Friday afternoon.
Fernhill House Hotel is a family-run hotel specialising in weddings and family occasions.
‘Customer service has been the very cornerstone of the business since our grandmother Mary O’Neill from Skibbereen opened Fernhill as a country house hotel in 1967,’ said proprietor Michael O’Neill.
The hotel is famed for its gardens, and everything in the business takes its inspiration from them, he added, including Fernhill’s own gin, food, decór, fresh floral displays, sustainability and more.
Fernhill House Hotel also took home the award for Best Customer Service sponsored by Blackwater Motors.
Other winners from the event included Eugene Scally of Scally’s Supervalu in Clonakilty, who was presented The Southern Star's 2023 West Cork Business Ambassador and Dursey Boat Trips, who were crowned Fáilte Ireland's Best West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Business of the Year.
Jack Regan of Trend 7 Media was named West Cork Young Businessperson of the Year.
Full list of winners
Best New Business: Wizard & Grace. Sponsored by Collins, Brooks & Associates.
Best Small Business: The Skibbereen Food Company. Sponsored by OfficeMaster.
Best use of Creative Marketing: Celtic Knot Events. Sponsored by Masterkabin.
Best Family-Run Business: Gougane Barra Hotel. Sponsored by Cork County Council.
Best Tourism Experience: Kinsale Mead Co. Sponsored by Cork Airport.
Best Customer Service: Fernhill House Hotel. Sponsored by Blackwater Motors.
Best Medium/Large Business: Glenview Heating. Sponsored by Lilly Ireland.
West Cork Young Businessperson of the Year: Jack Regan - Trend 7 Media. Sponsored by Access Credit Union.
Pitch of the Night : Two Green Shoots - presented by Southern Star
West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Business of the Year: Dursey Boat Trips. Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland.
West Cork Business Ambassador: Eugene Scally. Sponsored Presented by Southern Star.
Overall Business of the Year: Fernhill House Hotel. Presented by Southern Star and Carbery
CATEGORY WINNERS
Best New Business – Sponsored by Collins, Brooks & Associates
Wizard & Grace
Wizard & Grace create essential oil intention candles and self-care products, designed specifically for women to support their well-being.
‘While there are many candle brands on the market, the majority of candles, even those that claim to be natural, use synthetic fragrance or artificial perfume to scent,’ explains founder, Kinsale-based Paula McGovern.
‘Wizard & Grace uses only 100% aromatherapy grade essential oils in each candle, blended specifically to support a self-care need. So, not only do our sustainable candles smell beautiful they can actively support your well-being through the therapeutic value of essential oils.’
Best SMALL Business – Sponsored by OFFICEMASTER
The Skibbereen Food Company
A recipe of skill, attention to detail and resilience has proved the perfect mix for Matthew Brownie of The Skibbereen Food Company (TSFC), an outsourcing snack company that provides unique, premium and healthier pork and corn snacks to the Irish and UK markets.
In business for almost 10 years, TSFC has three products ranges with nine product lines which are available in four of the major retailers in Ireland, with a fifth onboard in 2024.
Best Use Of Creative Marketing – Sponsored by Masterkabin
Celtic Knot Events
Sourcing local, but with an international reach is at the heart of Bantry-based creative wedding and event planning business Celtic Knot Events.
Set up by Sharon Thomas, the business specialises in creative style weddings including outdoor weddings where the venue is built from the ground up using tipis, marquees, stretch tents, flooring, staging, lighting, sound engineering equipment and furniture.
Best Family-Run Business – Sponsored by Cork County Council
Gougane Barra Hotel
Family is to the fore at Gougane Barra Hotel with the fifth generation of the Lucey family at the helm of the business overlooking St Finbarr’s Oratory and island.
‘Our family of Cronin’s moved to Gougane Barra as water bailiffs (circa 1854) and took lease of the landlord Townsend’s hunting lodge,’ explains Neil Lucey.
Best Tourism Experience – Sponsored by Cork Airport
Kinsale Mead Co.
It’s not every business can say they’ve been chosen to appear on television shows with internationally renowned chefs, but Kinsale Mead Co can!
They were visited by Neven Maguire and featured on RTÉ’s ‘Neven’s Seafood Trails’ as well as Masterchef John Torode for ‘John Torode’s Ireland’ also on RTÉ.
Best Customer Service – Sponsored by Blackwater Motors
Fernhill House Hotel
Fernhill House Hotel is a family-run hotel specialising in weddings and family occasions.
‘Customer service has been the very cornerstone of the business since our grandmother Mary O’Neill from Skibbereen opened Fernhill as a country house hotel in 1967,’ said proprietor Michael O’Neill.
Best Medium/Large Business – Sponsored by Lilly
Glenview Heating
Glenview Heating, Adrigole, Beara started out as a one-person operation 30 years ago when founder Finbarr placed an ad in The Southern Star.
Fast forward to today, and the team has expanded to over 20, and the business offers a diverse range of cutting-edge services.
Young Businessperson Of The Year – Sponsored by Access Credit Union
Jack Regan, Trend 7 Media
Trend 7 Media is a marketing agency focused on delivering social media and online podcasting services to its clients.
Founder Jack Regan from Ballydehob set the business up as a way of providing value to local West Cork businesses.
‘We help brands understand their target audience online and implement social media and podcast marketing strategies that will provide value to their audience and bring value to thei