Geoghegan family and Power Washing Ireland are Westmeath's Enterprise Award winners for 2019
A power washing business from Mullingar is this year’s winner of the Westmeath’s Enterprise Award.
Enda and Syl Geoghegan of Exterior Building Cleaning Ltdm T/a Power Washing Ireland, took the top prize of €2,500 and will now represent Local Enterprise Office Westmeath at the 21st National Enterprise Awards on Wednesday May 29 in the Mansion House in Dublin.
Syl Geoghegan established Power Washing Ireland in 1994 by and Enda joined in 2005.
The business continues to grow and expand.
Its a family run business specialising in cleaning exteriors of buildings and structures throughout Ireland.
Power Washing Ireland has a selection of machines to cater for all heights of buildings and structures.
The company currently employs six people full-time and one part-time.
Other winners at the Westmeath Enterprise Awards – held at the Annebrook House Hotel in Mullingar, yesterday evening, Thursday March 7 – included Elaine Allen of A Slice of Life Catering, who took home the Best Start Up Award, and Alan Heaney, Efficient Farm Solutions Ltd, who won the Innovation Award.
Elaine and Leigh Allen of A Slice of Life Catering.
Christine Charlton, head of enterprise at Westmeath County Council, Alan Heaney and Niall McGauran of Efficient Farm Solutions, and Cllr John Dolan, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council.
National judging is in April and May and Power Washing Ireland will be competing against 30 finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund.
The categories this year include ‘Best Export Business,’ ‘Best Start Up Business’ and ‘Innovation,’ in addition to eight regional awards.
The Westmeath Enterprise Awards, organised by the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, are part of Local Enterprise Week 2019.
There are some 370 events taking place across the country for this year’s Local Enterprise Week, being organised by the network of Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
Christine Charlton, head of enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, said: “Power Washing Ireland has already become a success story and the judges were particularly impressed by their business strategy and their success in domestic markets.
“The National Enterprise Awards are a great barometer for what the Local Enterprise Offices are doing and every year the standard is getting better and better and we are delighted to have Power Washing Ireland representing us in Dublin in May.”
Five other local businesses and entrepreneurs were also shortlisted this year: Conor Cochrane of Social Media Elite; Geoff Allen of Mersus Technologies; Paul Comiskey of Socrates Workforce Solutions; Tao Cui of OneFam; and Michéal Coughlan of Intersearch Ireland.
Among the special guests at the ceremony were An Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Dolan and Cllr Una D’Arcy.
Members of the judging panel included Nuala-Anne Curley of Mullingar Chamber, Bernie Leavy of Westmeath Community Development and Marie Manning of Manning Financial.
The awards were just one of the many highlights of Local Enterprise Week, which ends today March 8.
Other events included Women Making It Happen Event to mark International Women’s Day today and the Money Matters Seminar and Networking Event aimed at informing Westmeath entrepreneurs of avenues of funding they can avail of to help grow their business.