Finalists announced for the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards 2010

The Irish Franchise Association has announced that the large number of entries received for this year's Franchise Awards has been reduced to a shortlist of finalists from which the overall winner in six categories will be chosen. The Irish Franchise Awards recognise excellence in franchising and reward outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the franchise industry. The judging panel for the 2010 Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards include Orna Stokes, Head of Specialist Sectors, Ulster Bank; Orla Nugent, Director Executive MBA, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School; Brian Davitt of Dublin County Enterprise Board; Conor Brophy, Business Editor, Newstalk; and Cian O Mongain from the Sunday Business Post.

The awards categories represent both retail and service industries and include Franchise of the Year, Franchisee of the Year, Best Emerging Franchise and Franchise Person of the Year. Finalists for Franchise of the Year (Retail) are Abrakebabra Investments Ltd; The Streat; O2 and Subway.

Finalists for Franchise of the Year (Service) are Fastway Couriers (Ireland); Chem-Dry Ireland Ltd; Home Instead Senior Care; Snap Printing; Action Coach and Signs Express. Finalists for Franchisee of the Year (Retail) are John Dawson from Snap Printing St John Rogerson's Quay and Donnybrook; Catherine & Peter Wilson of Eddie Rockets Kilkenny and Derek and Aisling Mullins, The Streat, Citywest & Tallaght.

Finalists for Franchisee of the Year (Service) are Noeleen Cronin of Home Instead Senior Care in Blackrock, Co Dublin; Michael O'Hara of Signs Express, Sligo and Tony Clarke from Kendlebell, Naas. Finalists for Best Emerging Franchise are Kids Party Club; Tax Assist; O2; Caremark; Motivation Weight Management Clinic and Tone at Home.

Finalists for Franchise Person of the Year are Ed Murphy from Home Instead Senior Care and John Green from Chemdry Ireland.

The awards will be presented at a formal black-tie awards ceremony at Croke Park on Friday February 19th 2010. The award ceremony is anticipated to be one of the most impressive business events of the year reflecting the remarkable growth of the franchise sector in these challenging times. The Awards ceremony is the highlight of the much anticipated Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association EXPO on February 19th and 20th. Tickets for the award ceremony are now on sale at €110 per person or €800 per table of eight.