Modular construction group Castle Group wins Local Business of the Year Award from The Irish Times.
Castle Group in Galway has won the Local Business of the Year Award at the The Irish Times Business Awards, which is run in association with Bank of Ireland.
Other firms shortlisted for the Local Business Award included: butchers Loughnane’s of Galway, retailer Furey Smyth Group, hotel chain Address Collective and Meath engineering firm Hanley Energy.
“This year’s finalists embody resilience, innovation and vision and we’re honoured to stand alongside the organisations whose leadership continues to shape the future of industry in Ireland”
The winner of the overall Businessperson of the Year Award was Niall Browne, chief executive of Dawn Meats, which is in expansion mode after last year acquiring a majority stake in New Zealand’s biggest meat processor Alliance Group.
Niall Browne, CEO, Dawn Meats, won the Business Person of the Year award presented by Ciarán Hancock (right), Business Editor, The Irish Times and John Feeney (left), CEO, Corporate and Commercial at Bank of Ireland. Photograph: Julien Behal
The business also won the award of World’s Best Steak for its Angus sirloin which is sold in Lidl in Ireland and comes from cattle bred in Waterford.
The Deal of the Year Award went to Greencore for its acquisition of Bakkover.
The awards, now in their eighth year, are run in association with Bank of Ireland and the winners on the night were chosen by a panel of judges chaired by Anne Sheehan.
Irish business heroes
Áine Kennedy, founder of The Smooth Company, was presented with the Future Leader award by presented by Anne Sheehan, General Manager Microsoft Europe North, Enterprise Commercial. Photograph: Julien Behal
Áine Kennedy, founder of the Smooth Company which she launched from her attic in 2022, was named Future Leader at the awards.
Building materials business CRH was named Company of the Year after making it onto the S&P 500 stock index.
The Deal of the Year Award being presented to Dalton Philips, CEO of Greencore, by Garry Moroney, CEO of The Irish Times Group
“Bank of Ireland is proud to partner with the Irish Times Business Awards for the fifth year running, celebrating the leaders who drive Irish business to new heights,” said John Feeney, CEO of Corporate Banking at Bank of Ireland.
“This year’s finalists embody resilience, innovation and vision and we’re honoured to stand alongside the organisations whose leadership continues to shape the future of industry in Ireland.”
Local Business of the Year
Founded in 1999 in Galway, Castle Group has grown into a leading construction company specialising in modular building, fit-outs, and facilities management.
Employing more than 350 staff, Castle serves sectors including life sciences, healthcare, hospitality, and education. Its modular division addresses Ireland’s housing crisis with rapid-build, A-rated homes, delivering over 200 units for Ukrainian refugees and supporting government initiatives like Housing for All.
Castle’s agility and innovation are evident in its pivot to volumetric modular construction, doubling production capacity at its Gort facility powered by 99% solar energy. The company leverages BIM technology for precision and sustainability, earning ISO certifications and industry awards such as the Irish Construction Excellence Awards and SISK Supply Chain Award for Health & Wellbeing.
CSR and ESG commitments include off-grid operations, waste recycling, and carbon tracking. Castle fosters community engagement through local employment, sports sponsorships, and educational partnerships. Its Castle Well programme promotes employee wellbeing across four pillars: Work Well, Be Well, Live Well, and Give Well.
With €53 million in consolidated revenues and a reputation for sustainability and innovation, Castle Group is shaping the future of construction in Ireland and beyond.
Top image: Seamus Brady, founder of Local Business Award Winners Castle Group, receives the Local Business of the Year Award from Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, TD, and June Butler, Head of Corporate and SME Banking, Bank of Ireland. Photo: Julien Behal
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