Terra Liquid Minerals in Kildare, an agribusiness set up by two brothers in 2012, won the overall title at the 2018 National Enterprise Awards, which took place in Dublin on Thursday evening.

Tom and Padraig Hennessy have developed an automated mineral dosing system for farmers, which provides over 50,000 dairy cows with liquid minerals through their drinking water.

The Athy business employs 10 people and announced a €2m expansion programme late last year.

Tom and Padraig Hennessy have developed an automated mineral dosing system for farmers.

Tom and Padraig Hennessy have developed an automated mineral dosing system for farmers.

Awards ceremony

The announcement was made on Thursday evening in the Mansion House by the Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen.

The minister also presented awards to Get The Shifts Ltd for best startup (supported by LEO Clare); Burren Precast Concrete for best export (supported by LEO Carlow); and Cyc-lok Ltd for innovation (supported by LEO Laois).

Minister Breen stated at the event that the awards were a brilliant way to put business “success stories into the national spotlight as an example to others”.

He went on to congratulate all the businesses that were celebrated throughout the night and remarked that the winners represented the “backbone of Ireland’s enterprise success”.

Tom and Padraig Hennessy have developed an automated mineral dosing system for farmers, which provides over 50,000 dairy cows with liquid minerals through their drinking water.

The Athy business employs 10 people and announced a €2m expansion programme late last year.

'20 Years of Winners'

The LEOs in local authorities celebrated ‘20 Years of Winners’ at this year’s National Enterprise Awards, which was originally set up in 1998 to celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s micro-enterprises and small businesses.

According to a survey by the LEOs, previous winners of the National Enterprise Awards now employ 832 people and generate €131m in sales annually. Some past winners of the award, such as Irish Yogurts, have scaled up their businesses and are now Enterprise Ireland clients.

Best export award

Carlow-based business Burren Precast Concrete secured the best export business award. Taking home a total of €5,000, the business manufactures flood alleviation tanks and was backed by the LEO Carlow.

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