Ballina Chamber has been named as Chamber of the Year at the 2024 Chamber Awards.
The annual awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by Zurich, recognise the hard work and dedication of Chambers across the country in representing their members, engaging stakeholders, and fostering vibrant and thriving local communities.
Photo Caption (l to r): Mary Moyles, President of Ballina Chamber; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich Ireland; Mags Downey Martin, CEO of Ballina Chamber of Commerce; and Fiona Candon, President of Chambers Ireland.
This year there were 44 projects shortlisted across eight award categories, showcasing innovative communications campaigns, successful events, sustainable development initiatives, and creative collaborations between companies, local authorities and wider communities.
As well as the eight categories, there was a Special Recognition for Excellence Award for Letterkenny Chamber, commending their exceptional achievements and dedicated activity over the past year.
The evening then culminated in the final award of the evening for Chamber of the Year, which was presented to Mags Downey Martin, CEO of Ballina Chamber. Ballina Chamber was recognised for its consistent activity, innovative ideas and positive engagement with both its membership and the wider community in Ballina over the past year.
Fiona Candon, President of Chambers Ireland, said:
“Congratulations to Ballina Chamber – worthy winners of the 2024 Chamber of the Year Award. The quality of applications this year has been exceptionally high and competition for this coveted award was significant. It is no small feat to be recognised at a national level for exceptional diligence and dedication to the business community when the standard is so high across the Chamber network. Over the past year, Ballina Chamber stood out for how impressively they have communicated with their members, engaged with their local community in Ballina and the surrounding regions, and built effective working relationships with local and national representatives and organisations.
Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich Ireland, commented:
“Zurich is delighted to once again support the annual Chamber Awards and we are proud to be associated with these awards which acknowledge the important work Chambers undertake in fostering a vibrant business community of all sizes and sectors across Ireland. Now more than ever it is important to acknowledge the excellence of the Chamber network and the commitment and resilience of their members in supporting local communities and economic development.”
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The full list of winners for each of the award categories is as follows:
Local Authority Engagement: Cork Chamber – Car Free Day
Lobbying & Policy Campaign: Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Transformation of the Northern Ireland Planning System
Supporting Business: Ballina Chamber – A Taste of Ballina Christmas Hamper
Sustainability & Biodiversity: Tralee Chamber – Tralee Chamber Working with Businesses to Deliver Meaningful Biodiversity and Climate Action
Digital Campaigns: Dublin Chamber – The Dublin Business Collective Podcast
Community Support Initiatives: Ennis Chamber – Schools Engagement – Climate Action /Offshore Energy
Best International Project: Galway Chamber – Galway Scaling Internationally
Event of the Year: County Carlow Chamber – Creating Inclusive Employment
Special Recognition for Excellence: Letterkenny Chamber
Chamber of the Year 2024: Ballina Chamber