Alcorns Flower & Garden Centre win Chamber Business Person of the Year award

THE Letterkenny Chamber Business Person of the Year Award for 2025 has gone to  Alcorns Flower & Garden Centre. 

The announcement was made at Friday night’s Letterkenny Chamber Business Awards celebrations and Gala Ball which was held in the Mount Errigal Hotel.

Meanwhile the Chamber’s Hall of Fame award was presented to Eunan and Rachel McIntyre, Mac’s Deli.

At the Letterkenny Chamber Business Awards in the Mount Errigal Hotel on Friday are JImmy Stafford, Chamber President , Eunan and Rachel McIntyre, Mac’s Deli, Hall of Fame Award winners and Steve Frazer, City of Derry Airport. Photo Clive Wasson

The announcement of Alcorn’s Flower and Garden Centre as Business Person of the Year was one of the highlights of Friday night’s event. 

From humble beginnings in a family garden to becoming one of Donegal’s most loved destinations, Alcorns Flowers, Garden Centre  and Tropical World has blossomed through vision, hard work, and innovation.

Run by siblings John, Clive, and Caroline, the Alcorn family has turned their parents’ legacy into a thriving business that continues to grow and inspire .

They have built not just a garden centre flower shop and zoo, but a place of learning, sustainability, and joy  where nature and community come together.

Karoline Sweeney, Chamber Vice President, Barry Doherty, C-Bio, Sustainable Superstar Award and Fionnuala McBride, AIB. Photo Clive Wasson

The Letterkenny Chamber Business Awards 2025, hosted at The Mount Errigal Hotel, brought together a full house of businesses and community leaders from across Donegal in a dazzling celebration of enterprise, growth, and resilience. 

This year’s awards, held in partnership with EirGrid, honoured outstanding business achievements across 14 award categories, showcasing the vibrant diversity of businesses both large and small across the county and region.

Karoline Sweeney, Chamber Vice President, Sarah Lorraine Gallagher, Young Business Person of the Year and Chris Lynch, TCS. Photo Clive Wasson

Jimmy Stafford, addressing attendees, highlighted the spirit and dedication each finalist displayed: “Everyone shortlisted for the awards has shown their commitment to their business.

“This event celebrates the many achievements of our amazing business community in Letterkenny and the wider county and region. It is always fascinating to hear their stories and the passion that makes each business shine.”

Bernard Gallagher, Letterkenny Chamber, Catherine Greene, Crolly Distillery, and Eilis Docherty, Donegal Airport. Photo Clive Wasson

Reflecting on EirGrid’s partnership with the awards EirGrid’s Head of Public Engagement, Sinead Dooley said: “EirGrid is delighted to once again be supporting the Letterkenny Chamber Business Awards.

“Through our engagement with the Chamber, we have seen the dedication and innovation of businesses in Letterkenny and across Donegal. We have also seen how important and integral local businesses are to communities around the county.”

Bernard Gallagher, Chamber Vice President, Brendan and Sharon McGlynn of the Quiet Moment who won the Business Through Irish Award, and Caoimne O’Doherty, Lionra Leitir Ceannain. Photo Clive Wasson

The Hall of Fame was awarded to Eunan and Rachel McIntyre, from Mac’s Deli – one of those businesses that we’ve all used in some way and is synonymous with Letterkenny.

From a small 600-square-foot shop on Letterkenny’s High Road to one of the town’s best-loved food businesses this is a story of vision, hard work, and community spirit.

Eunan and Rachel McIntyre built Mac’s Deli from the ground up blending American-style deli innovation with Donegal warmth and hospitality.

Over three decades, they’ve grown from home-made sandwiches to a bustling café, bakery, and catering business that employs 30 people and serves thousands every week.

Through every change, one thing has stayed constant their commitment to quality, service, and people. 

AWARDS

Best Disability Inclusion Initiative  sponsored by Optum

Winner: Advocates for Personal Potential

Highly commended: Millennium Forum, Citadel Gymnastics                     

Excellence in Innovation sponsored by CoLab

Winner: PGIM Ireland
Highly Commended: Zinkworks, Nvolve Group                    

ShopLK Business Award sponsored by Dillons Hotel

Winner: Restex Bedding & Furniture

Highly Commended: Watson Hire, Headrush Hair & Beauty

Excellence in Marketing sponsored by  PGIM:                                 

Winner: Callaghan’s Electrical

Highly Commended:   Rushe Fitness,  Foy & Company

Best New Business sponsored by Highland Radio

Winner: No.9 Market Square

Highly Commended:   Circular Dress Collaborative, Brosef 

Business Excellence Award sponsored by Bank of Ireland

Winner: Boyle Construction

Highly Commended:   Nomadic Foods, Maple Group

Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by Fresh Today                      

Winner : Castle Grove Country House Hotel

Highly Commended:  Andrea Devins Opticians, Cosgroves Centra

Gnó le Gaeilge /Business Through Irish sponsored by Lionra Leitir Ceannain               

Winner: An Bomaite Ciúin / The Quiet Moment

Highly Commended:    No.9 Market Square, Letterkenny Credit Union

Best Tourism Business sponsored by  Donegal Airport

Winner:  The Crolly Distillery Visitors’ Experience

Highly Commended:    Sliabh Liag Camping, Wild Atlantic Camp

Employee of the Year Sponsored by Donegal ETB                                        

Winner: Declan Durning

Highly Commended: Jacqui Halligan. KO Fitness; Niamh McDermott, The Postal Store; Rory McGrenra, Cosgrove’s Centra; Joe Gibbons, Fresh Today School Lunches

 Sustainable Superstar sponsored by AIB                                        

Winner:  C-BIO

Highly Commended: Circular Dress Collaborative, Maple Group

 Workplace of the Year sponsored by Eirgrid                                                

Winner: FinTrU

Highly Commended:    Source Civil, Forward Emphasis

Outstanding Small Business sponsored by PTSB

Winner: The Postal Store

Highly Commended:  Bloem Coffee, Rushe Fitness

Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by TCS             

Winner : Sarah Gallagher, Sarah Lorraine Ireland

Highly Commended:   Francie McGinley, Intensity Fitness, James Mollow Brosef. Coffee

Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by Donegal County Council

The award went to Alcorns Flower & Garden Centre

Hall of Fame Sponsored by  City of Derry Airport

The 2025 Hall of Fame recipient was Eunan and Rachel McIntyre, Mac’s Deli