Six Galway companies have been awarded Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade at the 15th annual awards programme; they were among 130 indigenous companies recognised at the awards, representing 24 of the 32 counties across the country.

The first-time winners included Galway construction giants, JJ Rhatigan & Company, as well as Production Equipment Europe, an industrial distribution company based at Riverside Commercial Estate in the city.

Both companies achieved Ireland’s Best Managed Companies accolade, while – at the other end – Acorn Life was a platinum winner having won for the seventh consecutive year in these awards, led by Deloitte in association with Bank of Ireland.

Also honoured from a local perspective were Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group, Corrib Oil and SalesSense International.

Overall, the network of recipients has a combined turnover of €17 billion and €3 billion of exports sales, providing employment for over 53,000 people across Ireland across a range of sectors – from manufacturing and tech to construction and food and beverage.

A detailed judging process precedes the recognition, evaluating the entire management team and business strategy.

The judges look beyond financial performance at areas such as a company’s environmental, social and governance standards, strategic planning and talent strategy, when awarding Ireland’s top privately owned businesses.

Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, said he was delighted to see what he called ‘the remarkable achievements of these home-grown companies, who have demonstrated immense resilience, innovation, and commitment to sustainable growth’.

“Despite challenging headwinds and uncertainty, the Irish economy continues to perform remarkably well and the contribution that these companies make cannot be understated — providing employment to over 53,000 individuals and contributing €3 billion to our export sales,” he said.

“The businesses showcased here are emblematic of the resilience of our people and the underlying strength of our economic fundamentals,” he added.

Pictured: JJ Rhatigan & Company Chairman and Group Managing Director Padraic Rhatigan (second left) and CEO Ger Ronayne, with Nikki Canavan (left), Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking, and Brian Murphy (right), Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Award.