Crusaders scoop regional business award

A local charity providing free therapy for children with special needs scooped the Social Enterprise Award at the Munster provincial final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.

Seven other businesses from across Munster were also selected as winners at the awards ceremony, which took place at The Maryborough Hotel in Cork recently.

Clare Crusaders will now go on to compete with provincial winners from Leinster, Connacht and Ulster for the national title and individual category title at the all-island finals next month.

The 2012 Ulster Bank Business Achiever will receive a comprehensive prize package including a €50,000 publishing bursary with the Irish Independent, business mentoring from Enterprise Ireland, a full service communications workshop, as well as much positive national and regional PR coverage.

Commenting on the company’s success, Ann Norton of Clare Crusaders Clinic said their success is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at the clinic.

“I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the team and we look forward to the national final in May,” she said.

The Clare Crusaders Children’s Charity was founded in 2005 by Ms Norton, Frank Cassidy and the late Howard Flannery, to provide much needed therapy to children with special needs in areas such as cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome.

Located in Barefield, the clinic is run on a voluntary basis and provides a variety of therapies to over 230 children. The services are free of charge and include speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, physiotherapy and reflexology.

This year, the awards received a record number of entries, totalling almost 600, with over 120 entries submitted from Munster. Tom Leahy, Ulster Bank regional director, said the record number of entries submitted shows a real turning point in the Irish business community. “We are delighted to see so many great businesses standing up to be recognised,” he added.

For further information on the 2012 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards and the provincial winners, go to www.businessachieversaward.com.