Castlebar, Ballina, and Claremorris are competing in the Bank of Ireland National Enterprising Town Competition with a total prize fund of €110,000. Bank of Ireland’s national competition to find the country’s most enterprising town is set to reach its climax, with 78 entries from 31 local/city authority areas vying to be crowned Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town Winner 2017. The bank acknowledges the huge level of support from local authorities all over Ireland for this very important competition. By entering the National Enterprising Town Awards Competition, each town/city village/urban area has an opportunity to focus on the strengths of its town and to present its town in the best possible light with a common voice.
In Mayo, Castlebar, Ballina, and Claremorrisarecompeting in various categories which will include regional runner-up, regional winner, merit awards, national category winners, and the overall national winner. With a total prize fund of €110,000, more than 30 cash prizes will be awarded to various winners. The overall winning town, city village or urban area will be awarded total prize money of €23,000, a trophy, and the prestigious title of Bank of Ireland’s National Enterprising Town 2017.
The judging panel will visit each of the local organising committees from late August through to mid-October with the winners announced at an awards ceremony in November. The judges will consider a range of factors which demonstrate enterprising spirit and success.
Alan Durcan, Bank of Ireland, head of County Mayo, said: “As Ireland’s Enterprise Bank, we recognise that SMEs, start-ups and community organisations are a significant driver of the overall prosperity of the city or county. Local business owners and community groups want to see their town doing well, and there is nothing like a bit of healthy competition to motivate people to put their best foot forward. We want to recognise and reward those places where small businesses and community groups are working together with their local council and State agencies to promote enterprise in their area.”
