Westmeath County Enterprise Awards: meet the finalists
On Wednesday March 4, Local Enterprise Office Westmeath are hosting the Westmeath County Enterprise Awards at Bloomfield House Hotel.
This year, they celebrate 12 outstanding finalists, each representing the ambition, innovation and entrepreneurial excellence that define Westmeath’s vibrant business community.
The finalists span an impressive range of sectors, from advanced robotics and engineering to artisan food, creative industries, education, digital technology and manufacturing. Their work showcases commercial success, creativity, resilience, community impact and a commitment to building a thriving regional economy.
These finalists represent their founders and teams, the dedicated individuals whose vision, resilience and hard work drive the continued growth and success of their businesses. Their stories reflect the very values the Local Enterprise Office strives to champion: innovation, determination and the ambition to create sustainable enterprises that contribute meaningfully to the ongoing economic development of Westmeath.
A spokesperson for LEO Westmeath said: “We look forward to celebrating their achievements and we extend our warmest congratulations to all 12 finalists. Their vision, talent and perseverance inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and further strengthen Westmeath’s reputation as a dynamic hub for enterprise.”
Acentryx Ltd
Acentryx Ltd is an innovative industrial robotics and automation solutions provider based in Athlone serving clients across Ireland and Europe. Founded in June 2023, the company is led by directors John Henry, Oscar Jabaloy Colominas, and Emre Aslankara, who bring together a skilled team of engineers with expertise in robotics, programming, automation technologies, and system integration.
Acentryx has quickly established itself as a trusted partner for industries seeking advanced, reliable, and future-ready automation solutions. The company offers a full suite of services including specialised and flexible robot training, automation consultancy and support, advanced automation cell design, high-end panel building, robot programming and turnkey integration.
Bonny Bó
Bonny Bó is a family-run dairy founded in May 2023 by Eimear and Francis Nally on their farm near Athlone. Drawing on milk from their Bord Bia–certified herd of 150 British Friesian cows, the Nally’s pasteurise, but never homogenise, their milk, preserving its naturally rich, creamy flavour.
Known for freshness and quality, Bonny Bó produces whole milk and an ever-growing range of flavoured milks on-site often bottling just hours after milking. Alongside favourites like chocolate milk, the brand has earned a loyal following for its creative seasonal flavours, including the much-loved crème egg variety.
Milk is sold directly to customers through a self-service vending machine in reusable glass bottles and through select local shops and SuperValu stores across the region. With a commitment to sustainability, authenticity, and farm-fresh taste, Bonny Bó has quickly become a standout name in the midlands food scene.
Creators31
Katie Cochrane is the founder of Creators31, a creative studio known for delivering high-impact brand activations, product development and PR gifting that seamlessly merge imagination with commercial results. With a sharp eye for design and a strategic understanding of what drives brand desire, Katie has built a reputation for turning ambitious ideas into market-ready experiences that elevate visibility, engagement and sales.
Her career has been defined by a passion for innovation, detail and problem-solving – qualities that have made her a trusted creative partner for brands seeking standout executions without the operational strain. At Creators31, Katie leads the full journey from concept to delivery, ensuring every project not only looks exceptional but performs with purpose.
Under her leadership, Creators31 continues to set new standards for brand storytelling and experiential impact.
Follow Katie on Instagram @creators.31
DcodeDyslexia Ltd
DcodeDyslexia Ltd is a leading provider of structured literacy and dyslexia support solutions in Ireland. Founded by Mary Moran, one of the country’s most experienced specialists in structured literacy, the company is driven by 40 years of expertise in evidence-based reading instruction.
Mary trained in the Orton Gillingham approach in the early 1980s and has since supported thousands of children through her private practice and partnerships with specialist schools. Her deep commitment to accessible, research-aligned literacy instruction led to the creation of the DcodeDyslexia programme, now used in more than one third of Irish primary schools.
Developed in 2021–22, the Dcode suite includes Structured Literacy workbooks, the Ncode spelling programme, and sets of decodable readers.
Each resource is designed using strategic colour to support clarity and reduce cognitive load, ensuring struggling readers can engage successfully and confidently.
E-Vehicle Accessories Ireland Ltd
Aniko Szucs is the founder and CEO of E-Vehicle Accessories Ireland Ltd, an Irish engineering company producing premium storage solutions for electric vehicles. Inspired during a 2020 trip to Belmullet – when she had to unpack her entire boot just to reach her charging cable – Aniko set out to fix a common EV flaw: the lack of practical front storage.
With nine years of automotive manufacturing experience, she invested her last €4,000 to bring her first design to life. Within eight months, the business scaled rapidly, becoming a limited company and now exporting OEM-quality components to over 35 countries.
Through advanced 3D scanning, CAD design, and ISO-certified manufacturing, Aniko has built a product line known for precision and reliability. Her mission is simple: make EV ownership more practical with solutions that are “out of the way, always at hand.”
Fore Distillery
Oliver Quirke is the founder and driving force behind Fore Distillery, a passion-driven craft distillery inspired by the historic landscape of Fore Valley. Fuelled by an appreciation for Irish heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and innovative spirit-making, Oliver set out to revive the ancient distilling traditions once practised by the Benedictine monks of Fore Abbey.
Under his leadership, Fore Distillery has become known for its award-worthy Golden and White Irish Rum, authentic Irish Poitín, and its eagerly awaited Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Oliver’s vision blends local history with modern technique, creating spirits that are rooted in place, story, and quality. With a commitment to community, sustainable craft, and memorable visitor experiences, he has shaped Fore Distillery into a standout destination in Ireland’s growing independent spirits scene.
Lir Steelworks Ltd
Lir Steelworks Ltd, founded by John Cogan and based near Castlepollard, is a trusted Irish manufacturer and installer of precision-engineered steel and composite products. Serving commercial and residential clients nationwide, they specialise in delivering robust, long-lasting solutions tailored to the needs of modern developments.
Their product range includes pedestrian guard rails, bin and bicycle stores, custom railings, and residential and industrial gates. These solutions feature prominently in town-renewal schemes, greenway projects, large-scale housing developments, and private contracts across Ireland.
With major contracts secured from leading housing developers, Lir Steelworks Ltd has built a reputation for craftsmanship, reliability, and consistent project delivery. In recent years, they have expanded operations to supply and export products to Northern Ireland and the UK, strengthening their presence within the wider steel-fabrication sector.
Driven by the values instilled by founder John Cogan – quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction – they continue to grow as a leading partner for construction firms, local authorities, and private clients throughout Ireland and beyond.
Nally Engineering
Michael Nally is the founder and driving force behind Nally Engineering, a leading provider of high-performance structural steel and bespoke metalwork solutions for industrial and commercial developments. With a strong engineering background and a commitment to precision, safety, and programme certainty, Michael has built the company into a trusted partner for contractors, developers, and architects across Ireland.
Under his leadership, Nally Engineering has developed an integrated design, supply and install delivery model that ensures full quality control and compliance at every stage of a project. Michael oversees the delivery of CE-certified structural steel fabrication and installation, specialising in robust steel frames for industrial units and warehousing, as well as complex, one-off bespoke metalwork projects.
His expertise spans a wide range of engineered solutions, including stairs, fire escapes, access platforms, balconies, architectural metalwork, metal decking, cladding systems, and safety railings, gates, and barriers. Michael’s hands-on approach, technical knowledge, and focus on innovation have positioned Nally Engineering as a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective provider of steel solutions from concept to completion.
Follow Michael on Instagram @nallyengineering
Ossark Ltd
Ossian Moore and Mark Gaughan are the co-founders of Ossark Ltd, a technology-driven digital agency specialising in visual communication for the architectural, engineering and construction sector and the wider property industry. Bringing together complementary strengths in architectural visualisation, digital product development and creative technology, they founded Ossark to close the gap between technical accuracy and compelling visual storytelling. Together, they lead Ossark’ s multidisciplinary approach, uniting technical precision, planning awareness, and innovative digital tools to support development projects from early concept and planning stages through to marketing and sales. Their vision is grounded in clarity, detail and the belief that high-quality visuals are essential for communicating the potential of the built environment.
Ossian and Mark also co-developed Lumely AI, an architectural image platform designed for the built environment. Their goal with Lumely is to accelerate design workflows by enabling rapid, high-quality iteration through virtual staging, render enhancement and targeted design edits.
Driven by innovation and a deep understanding of the property and development landscape, Ossian and Mark continue to guide Ossark at the intersection of creativity, technology, and design communication.
Signs Express
Founded in 2009 and led by Pat Ginty, Midland Signs Limited T/A Signs Express (Mullingar) is a leading Irish signage provider offering full design, manufacturing, and installation services. Equipped with advanced digital printing, CNC routing, and laser cutting technology, the company produces high-quality indoor and outdoor signage, vehicle graphics, window graphics, exhibition displays, banners, labels, and safety signage.
Serving clients across retail, commercial, industrial, construction, and public sectors, the team is known for its craftsmanship, reliability, and personalised service. The portfolio includes major brands such as Center Parcs Ireland, Specsavers, Vodafone, HSE, Writech, and IDA Ireland. The business has been recognised within the Signs Express network, winning Best Sign Project for the Center Parcs Aqua Sana Forest Spa rebrand.
Barbavilla Dairy
Peter Pavlov is the co-founder and master cheesemaker behind Barbavilla Dairy, a family-run artisan creamery based in north Westmeath. Together with his wife Stacey and their daughter Aleks, Peter established Barbavilla Dairy with a clear vision: to craft exceptional sheep, cow, and goat milk cheeses using the highest-quality Irish milk sourced from local farms.
Under Peter’s leadership, Barbavilla Dairy has become the only artisan cheese producer in Westmeath and Longford, helping place the region firmly on the Irish cheese map. His dedication to traditional methods, innovation, and uncompromising quality has earned the creamery significant recognition, including gold and bronze honours at the Irish Cheese Awards, a prestigious Two-Star rating for their Smoked Provola at the Great Taste Awards, international commendation at the British and Irish Cheese Awards and multiple distinctions at the Artisan Cheese Awards.
Peter has proudly showcased Barbavilla Dairy cheeses at Midland Flavours, Taste of Westmeath, Lidl Kickstart and a wide range of Bord Bia events, bringing their handcrafted cheeses to audiences across Ireland and further afield.
Now, with growing interest from both Irish and UK buyers, Peter is guiding Barbavilla Dairy into its next phase of growth. The creamery is exploring export opportunities and potential collaboration with a major Irish distributor. By the end of the year, Barbavilla Dairy aims to double production and create new local jobs – continuing its mission to bring world-class, handcrafted Irish cheese to an ever-wider audience.
Sugar Plum Sweetery
Sugar Plum Sweetery is a multi-award-winning Irish chocolatier founded by husband-and-wife team David Quirke and Denise Buckley in Mullingar. Blending craftsmanship, nostalgia and bold innovation, the brand has quickly become one of Ireland’s fastest-growing chocolate success stories. Its viral Dubai Chocolate Bar has achieved record sales across online channels, premium retail partners and the brand’s own stores, cementing Sugar Plum Sweetery’ s reputation for fun, theatrical and unforgettable chocolate.
Operating from a 1000 sq. ft production facility, the company runs two retail stores and supplies leading Irish retailers including Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Avoca and Kilkenny Design. With a digital-first gifting focus and constant product innovation, Sugar Plum Sweetery continues to push creative boundaries.
With plans for further retail expansion and a new large-scale manufacturing site, the brand is shaping the future of modern Irish chocolate – proudly, creatively and at scale.