Westmeath’s David Corcoran, CEO of Soltec Ireland Ltd, has been honoured with the Sustainability Award at the 28th annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards held recently at the Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
For 30 years, Soltec has been an innovator in recovering and recycling hazardous waste, and under Corcoran’s leadership, the company has deepened its commitment to sustainability, continuing to drive progress and positioning itself as a key player in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
Westmeath’s David Corcoran, CEO of Soltec Ireland Ltd.
Edward McCloskey named overall winner
Edward McCloskey has been named the overall EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025. Founder and executive chairman of WaterWipes, McCloskey also takes home the International category award, recognising his leadership in building a global brand that has redefined the wipes category with its pure, innovative and sustainable products.
In addition to WaterWipes, he owns and leads Boyne Valley Group, a portfolio of well-known FMCG brands including household names such as Chivers, McDonnell’s and Kinetica Sports Nutrition. Together, his businesses employ more than 650 people and continue to expand internationally, while maintaining a strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability.
McCloskey will go on to represent Ireland at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in Monaco in June 2026.
More winners
Áine Kennedy, founder of the Smooth Company, was named winner of the Emerging category. She launched her business in 2022 from her attic to revolutionise haircare with innovative products designed to simplify routines and deliver salon-quality results at home. Today, her brand is loved worldwide, with customers in 70 countries. Her entrepreneurial journey reflects creativity and resilience, and her brand continues to grow rapidly.
Derek Foley Butler, CEO of GRID Finance, received the award for the Established category. He has built GRID Finance into a leading fintech platform dedicated to improving the financial health of SMEs. It is the only platform in Ireland where businesses can access their credit score and the first financial services B-Corp in the country. Since its launch in 2013, it has supported 25,000 jobs across 4,000 businesses, driving financial inclusion and resilience across Ireland’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Each year, EY also presents a Special Recognition Award to individuals who have made a significant contribution to life on the island of Ireland through their vision, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This year, the prestigious honour was presented to Denis O’Brien, one of Ireland’s most prominent entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Now in its 28th year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme supports, promotes and connects a community of more than 680 entrepreneurs who collectively generate revenues of €28bn and employ more than 275,000 people across the island of Ireland.
Roger Wallace, head of Assurance and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland, said: “Yesterday was a celebration of the extraordinary talent and ambition that define Ireland’s entrepreneurial community. At a time when the global marketplace is changing at pace the role of entrepreneurs has never been more important. They create jobs, drive innovation and help Ireland to remain competitive on the world stage.
"We are incredibly proud of every finalist and winner – not only for their business achievements, but for their resilience, creativity and commitment to making a positive impact. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme exists to champion these leaders and to foster a dynamic community of knowledge, support and collaboration. Their courage and vision remind us why entrepreneurship matters now more than ever.
Harry Hughes, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2017 and chair of the Judging Panel, said: “Selecting winners from such an outstanding group of finalists was no easy task. Huge congratulations to Edward for his vision and determination, but every winner has demonstrated exceptional leadership and creativity. Our finalists deserve equal praise – their ambition and resilience throughout the programme have been inspiring. They are role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs, and their success stories show what’s possible when you combine courage with innovation.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
For further information, please visit http://www.eoy.ie