THIS LIST OF 100 PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO CORK HAS BEEN COMPILED BY THE PUBLISHER OF BUSINESS CORK MICHAEL MULCAHY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF CORK WHO RESPONDED TO THE PUBLIC CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY FEEL STAND OUT FOR THEM IN A RANGE OF SECTORS. IN CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF BUSINESS CORK AS A POSITIVE PROMOTIONAL TOOL FOR CORK BUSINESSES AND CORK BUSINESS PEOPLE, IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE HELPING CORK CITY AND COUNTY TO ACHIEVE ITS FULL POTENTIAL
BUSINESS
Helen Wycherley – For her role as National President of Network Ireland
Frankie Sheehan – For his leadership of The Pendulum Summit
Brian O’ Callaghan – For his purchase of a significant site in Cork Docklands
John Cleary – For his revitalising of South Mall with his various developments
Dan & Linda Kiely for creating a business that now employs over 3,000 people in Cork
Ronan Murphy – For his continuous development of SmartTech247 and launch of GetVisibility
Michael O’ Flynn – For his development of over 600 homes in Ballinglanna
Ann-Marie O’ Sullivan – For her five years leading Cork’s award winning communications business AM O’ Sullivan PR
Michael Barry – For securing the distribution of The Graham Norton wines and gin range
Mark Whitaker – For the development new Volvo and Landrover showrooms in Cork
Brendan O’ Regan – For the sale of Zenith Technologies
Oriel Lawton – For her inspiring role in O’ Connor Pyne
Angela O’ Leary – For her development of her firm AG Associates and its associated business Clarity
Ciara Byrne – For her leadership of Beacon AI
William Cuddy – For his leadership as President of Little Island Business Association 2012 – 2019
Aaron Mansworth – For his leadership of Trigon Hotels as one of Cork’s most progressive hotel groups
Paula Cogan – For her role as President of Cork Chamber
Sandra Looney – For her creation of The Munster Wedding Expo in Cork
Seamus Heaney – For his leadership of Cork Convention Bureau and the key events that it brings to Cork
CHARITY
Nathan Kirwan – For his development of Helpful Steps
Carmel O’ Keeffe – For her leadership of Dress for Success and its assistance to so many
Caitriona Twomey – For her support of so many through Cork Penny Dinners
Maureen Forrest – For her leadership of The Hope Foundation
Adi Roche – For her leadership of Chernobyl Children International
Dan & Linda Kiely – For their Lifetime Patronage of Cork Civic Life
Ray O’ Callaghan – For his Chairmanship of Down Syndrome Cork
Karen O’ Mahony For her leadership of The Rainbow Club Cork
Fiona Corcoran – For her leadership of The Greater Chernobyl Cause
Angie Benhaffaf – For her support of charities through her annual event The Red Lunch
CIVIC
Collette Wolfe – For her book If I could hold you again’ about her daughter Leanne who took her own life
Bob Seward – For 25 years of running The Cork Academy of Music
Paddy O’ Brien – For his tireless campaigning for older people in Cork
EDUCATION
Prof. Patrick O’ Shea – President of UCC for his visible presence in supporting so many Cork events
Kathy O’ Dwyer – For her role in providing Cork businesses and organisations with Interns from around the globe
Yvonne Lucey – For her role as Principal of Regina Mundi College
Valery Cullen – For over 40 years since the founding of Cork English College
Patricia Carey – For her Chairperson’s role of St Angela’s College
RELIGION
Bishop John Buckley – For leading the Diocese of Cork and Ross for 22 years and becoming Bishop Emeritus in 2019
Rev. Eithne Lynch – For her dedicated service in Cork in her role in the Church of Ireland
Bishop Paul Colton – For leading the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross for 20 years
Bishop Fintan Gavin – For taking over as Bishop of Cork and Ross
RETAIL
Margo Ann Murphy – For her promotion of artisan foods through her stall in The English Market
Tim Keane Family – For close to 60 years of jewellery store ownership
Wyon & Christel – For the passion that they have for their business Pinocchio’s Toys and Gifts
Louis Copeland – For the opening of his new store in Cork City
Kevin Flynn – For his redevelopment of Centra Little Island
Kevin Herlihy – For his ongoing development of his retail chain and his Saint Patrick Street Centra store
Pam O’ Regan – For her leadership of Saville Menswear for over 40 years
Sheena McCarthy – For her progressive social media promotion of fashion in her boutique
POLITICS
Senator Jerry Buttimer – For being vocal on the need for a Directly Elected Lord Mayor of Cork
Dr. John Sheehan – For his role as Lord Mayor of Cork
Cllr. Patrick Gerard Murphy – For his role as the Mayor of the County of Cork 2018/2019
Cllr. Deirdre Forde – For her support of the businesses of Douglas in its time of need
Cllr. John Maher – For his local election campaign in Cork North East
ARTS
Rose McHugh – For her leadership as Chairperson of The Crawford Gallery
The Team at Fastnet Film Festival – For their continuous development of the film festival
Catherine Mahon Buckley – For her inspiring approach to bringing people into the performing arts sector
Alan Foley – For his promotion and leadership of Cork City Ballet
Julie Kelleher – For her progressive role as Artistic Director of The Everyman
ENTERTAINMENT
Paul Twohig – For carving out a unique niche in the DJ scene
Velvin Lamont – For his unique style of entertainment and singing
Conor O’ Shea – For his unique approach to entertaining an audience
Ted Dunne – For being the most sought after DJ in Cork
Linda Kenny – For her gorgeous tribute to Doris Day
Liam Sheehan – For his magical contribution to so many events
HOSPITALITY
Stephen Belton – For his leadership of Garryvoe Hotel and The Bayview Hotel and all things East Cork
Kieran Callinan – For his leadership of Brook Foods and their catering for The 60th Anniversary Rose of Tralee Ball
Irene & Damien Twohig – For their opening of Burnt Pizza
Izz and Eman Alkarajeh – For leaving the direct provision system and opening Izz Cafe on George’s Quay
Miceál & Oksana O’ Hurley – For their promotion of their Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream business in Youghal
Margaret Montgomery – For her development of the Reardans Group
Colette Twomey – For her continuous development of her business Clonakilty Food Company
Joe Kennedy – For his leadership in the redevelopment of The Clayton Hotel Silver Springs
Raymond Kelleher – For his Sales & Marketing expertise in promoting Trigon Hotel Group
PROMOTING CORK
Graham Norton – For always mentioning and promoting Cork
Jeremy Irons – For always mentioning and promoting Cork
Chris Walley and Alex Murphy – For always mentioning and promoting Cork
Rory Allen – For his TV show ‘How to Cook Well’
Gerald Kean – For his continuous promotion of Cork and assisting Cork charities to raise funds
Sonia O’ Sullivan – For her ongoing promotion of Cork
Darina Allen – For her ongoing promotion of Cork
MEDIA
Samantha Barry – For her promotion of Cork as Editor of Glamour
Elmarie Mawe – For inspiring so many this year
PJ Coogan – For dealing with the issues of the day on his morning radio show on 96FM
Colm O’ Sullivan – For his presence at many events to promote Cork
Brendan O’ Connor – For his promotion of Cork in his writings and in his television presenting roles
Pat Fitzpatrick – For his book on ‘101 Reasons Why Cork is Better than Dublin’
COMPANIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CORK
Brook Food Services
Barry Group Mallow
Cork Airport
Horner Ireland
National Business Machines
Spearline
Teamwork
Voxpro powered by Telus International
Johnson and Perrott Motors
Blizzard
Biotech
Dornan Engineeering
