Frosses businessman Donagh Kelly has been named by the Donegal Dublin Business Network as their inaugural Business Person of the Year for 2024.
The CEO of the Circet Group Ireland and the UK, was honoured at a gala dinner hosted by the Donegal Dublin Business Network in the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday evening.
A special commissioned bronze and marble sculpture, designed by Letterkenny artist Redmond Herrity, was presented to the honouree Mr Kelly.
Commenting on the award he said “It is a real pleasure to accept the inaugural DDBN Business Person of the Year Award. It is of a particular sense of pride to be recognised by your own kin. Donegal is my life and it is great to celebrate this Award with so many county folk. I’d like to acknowledge the great work of the Donegal Dublin Business Network in supporting business at home and in the capital.”
Garrett Harte, Chairman of the DDBN said it was a pleasure to award the entrepreneur the inaugural DDBN Business Person of the Year for 2024.
Paul Doyle, Sean Perry, Sally Anne Sherry, Garrett Harte, Donagh Kelly, Rosy Temple & Paul Brogan at the event.
He added “The introduction of the inaugural Business Person of the Year award is to recognise and celebrate the pivotal contribution an individual from the county has made to the business community in Ireland and beyond.
“Donagh Kelly is undoubtedly one of Donegal’s most successful businessmen at the helm of global telecoms giant Circet with over €4 billion euro turnover annually. Donagh’s generosity with his time, quietly helping individuals and community projects across Donegal speaks volumes about his character and his desire to give back to his roots.”
The DDBN Christmas Dinner raised €14,000 for the charity “As Darragh Did”, set up by Andrew McGinley in the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley.
The charity has donated over €65,000 to 38 different communities and local sport projects across Donegal . Projects that promote integration, inclusion and that seek to get people participating locally.
Employees of Circet at the DDBN event.
