The Castleknock Print Blog

This year’s D15 Chamber Gala President’s Ball certainly lived up to its name. The event proved to be a truly gala affair with two hundred and thirty members of the local business and community sectors of Dublin 15 gathering for the 2009 Business and Community Awards ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel in Tyrrelstown.

Speaking before the awards were presented, chamber president John Connolly told guests that “Dublin 15 is a phenomenal area and is now bigger than either Galway or Limerick. We have over 1,500 companies operating in the area ranging from SME’s to large corporations. We also have the biggest retail centre in Ireland. D15 Chamber represents these businesses in the west part of Fingal county both at local and national government level,” he said.

One of the evening’s guest speakers was Ciaran Byrne, Mayor of Fingal who said “these business and community awards offer an outstanding demonstration of what Dublin 15 can do. Tonight you are recognizing the excellence of these individuals and companies not just for their contribution to the economy of Fingal but to the national economy generally. SME’s are the biggest contributor to the Irish economy and it is great to see that contribution recognised,” he stressed.

The main sponsor of the evening was the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and its external communications manager Siobhan Moore spoke of the involvement of the DAA with the D15 Chamber over many years. “We are acutely aware of the connection between the airport and Dublin 15 and in particular the importance of the airport to the 1,500 companies in this area and of course the importance of you and your clients to us,” she said.

She also pointed out that work on the new Terminal 2 is progressing well and the new facility will open in November of next year saying “when it is built we will be ahead of the curve for the first time ever in terms of capacity.”

According to county manager David O’Connor, “in these recessionary times the county council more than ever has a responsibility to account for our stewardship of your money. Most of you here this evening are contributors through your rates. For every man, woman and child in this county, €3,000 is spent from our coffers.

“The investment we have made in this area is immense,” said Mr. O’Connor. “Half our staff are now based in this area in our offices on Grove Road and in the Library which is the biggest in Ireland.”