Teams from across the Connacht Hospitality Group took to the streets of Galway last Tuesday for the Group’s annual Dragons’ Den Charity Challenge, raising more than €20,600 for Galway Hospice, the Connacht Hospitality Group’s Charity of the Year for 2026.
The event challenged teams from businesses across the Group to develop their own product, bring it to market and put their sales skills to the test on the streets of Galway City.Competition was fierce in the build-up to the event, with teams embracing the challenge and developing a diverse range of products including candles, reusable cups, decorative lamps and recycled playing cards, all with the shared goal of raising as much money as possible for Galway Hospice.
Taking the Dragons’ Den title for 2026 was the team from M. Fitzgerald’s Bar on Quay Street, with their hugely successful ‘Hugs for Hospice’ concept.The team created a range of Galway Hospice branded teddy bears, which they sold to members of the public throughout Galway City, combining a simple fundraising idea with an important message of support for the Renmore-based organisation.
M. Fitzgerald’s General Manager Alan Broderick said he was thrilled to see his team crowned this year’s winners.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the result and incredibly proud of the whole team. The competition was fantastic for team building and brought out a real competitive spirit, but most importantly, it put Galway Hospice and the incredible work they do at the forefront of everyone’s minds.“Knowing that every sale was helping to raise funds for such an important local organisation really motivated the team. The response from people around Galway was brilliant, and that support made the whole experience even more rewarding.”
Following the sales challenge around Galway City, the teams returned to face the second stage of the competition, pitching their business concepts to the five ‘Dragons’, made up of Directors from the Connacht Hospitality Group.
Each team had to demonstrate the thinking behind their product, their approach to sales and marketing, and the results they had achieved during the challenge before facing questions from the judging panel.After the pitches and deliberations, M. Fitzgerald’s and their Hugs for Hospice campaign were named the 2026 Dragons’ Den champions.
While there could only be one overall winner, the biggest success of the day was the fundraising total, with the combined efforts of the teams raising just over €20,600 for Galway Hospice.Galway Hospice is the Connacht Hospitality Group’s chosen Charity of the Year for 2026, with teams across the Group taking part in a programme of fundraising activities throughout the year to support the organisation and the vital services it provides to patients and families across Galway.
The Dragons’ Den challenge is designed to combine fundraising with employee engagement, creativity and teamwork, giving staff the opportunity to work together outside their usual roles while supporting an important local cause.
