Launch of the inaugural westmeath style awards

The inaugural Westmeath style Awards was launched at The Sheraton Athlone Hotel on Friday, ahead of the event proper at The Sheraton Athlone Hotel on Friday May 15. Speaking at the launch, Frank Mulrennan, CEO of Celtic Media Group (parent company of Westmeath Examiner), said he was delighted to be working with The Sheraton, Specsavers and businesses in Westmeath on the awards. “I’m delighted to be initiating the Westmeath Style Awards in conjunction with Johnny and The Sheraton and Specsavers, with Hugh and Lynn Morris in Athlone and Elaine McGovern in the Mullingar store,” he said.

General manager of The Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Johnny O’sullivan, joked that he wasn’t really sure that he and Frank were the best people to be talking to a room of people about fashion. “I would like to thank Celtic Media for inviting us to be part of these awards. We see the hotel as a part of the community,” he said, pointing out that it is a popular venue for weddings and other family occasions. “The Sheraton is an international brand and Sheraton Athlone is a local hotel. Celtic Media is a national brand and the Westmeath Examiner is a local brand that is very much part of the community,” said Mr O’Sullivan. He said the many visitors to The Sheraton and Athlone are impressed with the services on offer and a huge part of that is retail and a huge part of that is the locally owned boutiques the area has to offer.

Group commercial manager of Celtic Media Group, Mary McGuigan explained that entries for the awards are open now. Judges will shortlist the finalists in each category before readers of the Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent vote (reader votes account for 50% of the total). “On the night we will announce the winners of each category, the overall Excellence in style winner and we will have a prize for the Best Dressed at the awards,” said Ms McGuigan. “Irish TV will be covering the event and there will be full coverage in the Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent, online and on social media.”

Sales manager Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent, Padraic Martin, thanked all the sponsors for getting on board with the awards. “With the exception of The Sheraton Hotel, who we approached about hosting the awards several months ago, it has only been a short time since we started making contact with businesses about this new initiative. And in that two to three-week period we have experienced a hugely positive response. “The response and feedback we have had has been so encouraging and is a real affirmation of our plans. Everyone we have spoken to about these awards has said they felt it was a worthwhile initiative and with almost no hesitation were happy to get involved. So thank you all for making it possible to get these awards off the ground,” he said. “We look forward to a great night of celebration together with your businesses here in the Sheraton on May 15,” he concluded.

To find out how to enter the 2015 Westmeath Style Awards, click here.