Sligo Chamber Gala Dinner 14th November 2015

The Sligo Park Hotel was full to capacity on Saturday 14th November for the Chamber’s Annual Gala Dinner, sponsored by Allied Irish Bank and Collins McNicholas Recruitment and HR Services Group. Guests assembled in the foyer for a drinks reception prior to dinner sponsored by The Wine Buff, Diageo and Hargadons Wines with entertainment provided by Eddie Lee & Partick Gilbert.
Following the meal, Chamber President David Kiely gave his Presidential Address highlighting the many successes in Sligo over the year with particular reference to the Royal Visit, the Fleadh, Yeats 2015, Sligo Live and the Surf Summit. David did however did point to the growing disparity in regional economic growth rates and encouraged Chamber members and the wider Sligo community to have the following on their priority list for the forthcoming General Election:

Get the N4 Collooney to Catlebaldwin stretch of road completed as soon as is possible
Extend a Gas pipeline into Sligo and the North West region
Deliver on the Eastern Bridge
Deliver on the Western Distributor Road and open up the IDA owned Oxfield site
Deliver a resourced entity that will promote Sligo Tourism and Industry
Deliver on a Technological University for the North West

Following the Presidential Address, Daniel Browne from Ocean Media, sponsors of the Business Person of the Year Award, made the presentation to Frank Boyle of Protek. In accepting the award, Frank made reference to the company’s acquisition by Molex during the year and his ambition for the company into the future. Frank also spoke of the constant requirement for talented individuals educated towards industry needs and the importance of a technological university in the North West of Ireland. The runner up prize was won by Stephen Mullen from Sligo Haulage & Distribution Ltd. This was the first time that the Chamber had a runner up prize and the award was made in recognition of the excellent standards that Stephen Mullen Haulage has attained and also in recognition of the employment that his company creates.
The Guest of Honour was Mr Frank Ryan, Chair of IDA Ireland. During his speech, Frank made reference to the many successes that the IDA had made in attracting and maintaining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland and the importance of Ireland’s workforce having the skills and competencies necessary to fulfill industry’s demands. He also made reference to the IDA’s strategy to increase the level of FDI throughout the regions of Ireland, including Sligo.
Following the speeches, guests were entertained by local band, Back Water Jack, with festivities going on until the early hours.