SIX NI ENTREPRENEURS SHORTLISTED FOR BUSINESS AWARD

ERNST & YOUNG ANNOUNCES 2008 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® SHORTLIST

2008 finalists set to be a force for environmental change
Tuesday, 20th May, 2008: Six Northern Ireland businessmen and woman are among the twenty-four companies shortlisted for the coveted 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® award.
These are, Danny Moore, Wombat Financial Software, Orla Corr, McAvoy Group, Lord Kilclooney, Alpha Newspaper Group, Patricia O?Hagan, Core Systems Ltd, Terrence Brannigan, Resource Services Group and Eugene Greene, Cooneen Watts & Stone Ltd.

Over 115 entries were received and nominees interviewed by Ernst & Young, followed by a rigorous assessment by a 12-strong panel of judges, chaired by telecoms entrepreneur, and previous recipient of the award, Mr. Denis O?Brien. Representing a quarter of all finalists, Northern Ireland continues to stage a good presence in this prestigious final, and this year?s contenders will aim to follow previous winning success like Peter Fitzgerald, Randox Laboratories, who was the overall Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year® in 2004.

Announcing the shortlist, Enda Kelly, Ernst & Young Partner-in-Charge of the Programme said ?Entrepreneurs play a vital role in economic development and act as invaluable role models for a new generation of entrepreneurs. Our finalists confirm the pattern of previous years of vibrant entrepreneurship present right across the country. All display exceptional entrepreneurial vision, and it is important that we celebrate and recognise their achievement. Their creativity and risk-taking ability acts
as the very foundation of our economic prosperity?.

Eight companies have been chosen in each of the three categories ? international,industry and emerging, and cover a cross section of business interests with healthcare
and business IT solutions among the top industries represented. An immediate benefitto each of the finalists is an instant access channel to over 200 of Ireland?s leading
entrepreneurs through strong networking opportunities the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Programme® provides.

InterTradeIreland Chief Executive Liam Nellis said: ?I am delighted that Northern Ireland companies make up a quarter of this year?s finalists. Northern Ireland was
particularly strong in the industry category which is reflective of our strong manufacturing heritage. As well as growth in turnover and job creation, the finalists
demonstrated a high level of vision, innovation and creativity in production, marketing and selling and expansion in local and international markets. They also displayed clear evidence that CSR and environmental considerations are embedded into their business
practices.

Donal Durkan, Director of Life Sciences and Creative Industries, Invest NI added:
?Once again, the talents of NI business people will be recognised through these prestigious awards. Those who have been selected from Northern Ireland epitomize the very qualities that differentiate a successful entrepreneur from their competitors ?creativity, determination and the confidence to take risks or challenge convention.
Such qualities are essential if we are to continue to develop a strong, wealthy economy. I congratulate all the finalists, particularly those from Northern Ireland, on
their achievements so far and hope that they fully embrace and benefit from the opportunities presented by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® programme.

The 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® programme continues to educate around the strategic value of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and this year?s emphasis will be on creating a sustainable environment.

The CEO retreat returns to Haiti in June, where finalists, past and present, will work with some of the world?s
poorest communities. Here they will impart their knowledge and expertises to develop the sustainable businesses, set up by last year?s finalists, and help create practical
solutions to Haiti?s environmental disadvantages ? deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution.
?Successful entrepreneurs constantly adapt to changes in the business climate, and now that the age of physical climate change is upon us, these are the visionaries who
will make global sustainability a reality, added Kelly. In our part, we will complement the hands-on initiatives in Haiti through the provision of a series of ground-breaking
presentations on Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility, led by one of the most prominent figures in the field. These sessions will highlight the enormous
strategic value of ?Green Business?, and hopefully encourage participants to place ecofriendly practice at the core of business operation?.

The 24 finalists in the 2008 programme will be profiled in further detail in the Irish Times over the next six weeks, beginning with the International Category on Monday
26th May. Each finalist will also feature in a three-part series to appear on RTE in October. The winner will be announced at a televised Awards Ceremony on 23rd
October, held at City West Hotel, Dublin. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® is part of a global recognition
programme, to identify, acclaim and support entrepreneurs.

The programme is currently run in over 40 countries, across six continents and in 2008 more than 10,000 entrepreneurs worldwide will be nominated. The Irish programme, now in its
11th year, has been identified as one of the strongest worldwide.

Liam Casey, founder and chief executive of PCH International was named as the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year®. Liam will represent Ireland at the World
Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards in Monte Carlo next month, where award winners representing over 40 countries will compete for the worldwide title.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® is run in association with RTE,Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, Invest Northern Ireland, Trinity Business School
and Digicel.


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