#IMAGEinspires: Highlights From The Businesswoman Of The Year Awards 2015

We’donned our finest gowns and joined almost 800 guests to celebrate the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2015 at the Hilton Hotel in Dublin last night. The awards, now in their ninth year, honoured the incredible businesswoman of Ireland and their fantastic accomplishments thus far. We popped the prosecco and sipped on the stunning cocktails provided by Diageo – attendees could choose between ‘The Creative Spirit’, a Ketel One vodka cocktail, or the ‘Tanqueray Trailblazer’ gin concoction, both adorned with dainty edible flower garnishes. In between the networking and carefully orchestrated selfies – imperative to get those Appassionata flowers arrangements in the background – we raised our glasses of Marks & Spencer wine as each of the winners?gracefully took to the stage to accept their awards from Pat Kenny and sponsors Samsung, AIB, Electric Ireland, Weir & Sons, Kuehne & Nagel and Versatile Bathrooms.

ICYMI:?IMAGE Businesswoman Of The Year Awards: The Winners!

#BWOTY15 trended all night, and thanks to selfie sticks provided by the Irish Independent, the enthusiastic tweeting and Instagrams kept on coming. Here are some social media highlights from the empowering night:

The calm before the #BWOTY15 storm.

A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 11:32am PST

Care for a #Tanqueray Trailblazer? We’re suddenly very thirsty #bwoty15 #imageinspires A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:26am PST

Or how about a ‘Creative Spirit’ cocktail with #ketelonevodka? We can’t choose! #imageinspires #bwoty15 A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:28am PST

Hanging out with this fabulous gang @IMAGEie #BWOTY15 ?????? They have selfie sticks on the tables pic.twitter.com/ACH0t2uVQL – Chupi (@xChupi) November 2, 2015

How pretty was this sign from Lovin Letters? We want to see how owner Linda Kinlay decorates her house at Christmas.

Loving the bright lights! #imageinspires #stonechatjewellers A photo posted by Stonechat Jewellers (@stonechatjewellers) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:09pm PST

 

Ahhhhhh so exciting! About 800 people here at #BWOTY15 – so many incredible Irish women. #IMAGEinspires pic.twitter.com/rCIIqoI14u – IMAGE.ie (@IMAGEie) November 2, 2015

The Smurfettes! @image.ie #BWOTY15 #IMAGEinspires #table4 @ucdsmurfitschool

A photo posted by A V R I L – (@avrildonohue) on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:59pm PST

That Miller & Lamb paper flower backdrop. Instagram central. ?

We’re practically a Dior fashion show prepping for the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards… #behindthescenes #IMAGEinspires @millerandlamb

A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 7:32am PST

Talk about ideal. No7 set up a beauty lounge to accommodate all our touch-up needs. ?

Don’t miss the @no7roi Beauty Lounge behind the scenes at the 2015 #IMAGEBusinesswomanoftheyearawards #bwoty15 #imageinspires

A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 8:58am PST

And XPOS? were on hand to chat to all our winners:

Aisling meets Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mary Finan #BWOTY15 @image_magazine pic.twitter.com/H2ewTBxH1x – Xpos? (@TV3Xpose) November 2, 2015

Congrats to Social Entrepreneurs of the Year, Michelle O’Donnell Keating & Niamh Gallagher @women4election #BWOTY15 pic.twitter.com/k5Bn2qYU4D

? Xpos? (@TV3Xpose) November 3, 2015

 

Our Businesswoman in chief, @clodaghedwards1 our CEO of Image Publications wearing some seriously stunning @weirandsonsofficial diamonds #imageinspires #bwoty15 A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 11:03am PST

Here come the girls best of luck Bernie, you truly deserve to win #ImageInspires #BWOTY15 A photo posted by worldBOX – Click – Fill – Ship (@worldbox.irl) on Nov 2, 2015 at 11:42am PST

The beautiful @melaniemorris looking stunning in @1louisekennedy introducing the panel at #BWOTY15 #IMAGEBusinesswomanoftheyearawards #imageinspires – A photo posted by Tara O’Connor (@taradoll74) on Nov 2, 2015 at 2:01pm PST

Doesn’t our @lgeorge353 and @elliebalfe1 look so beautiful? #imageinspires #bwoty15 A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:54am PST

We’re having such a fantastic evening filled with inspiring women in business! #BWOTY15 #BronwynConroyBS #WomeninBusiness #ImageInspires – A photo posted by Bronwyn Conroy (@bronwynconroy) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:24pm PST

Very proud tonight! #BWOTY15 #BronwynConroyBS #ImageInspires #womeninbusiness #girlboss A photo posted by Bronwyn Conroy (@bronwynconroy) on Nov 2, 2015 at 2:04pm PST

The @ucdsmurfitschool MBA gang enjoying a fantastic night so far @image.ie #BWOTY15 #IMAGEinspires #whoruntheworldgirls – A photo posted by A V R I L – (@avrildonohue) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:56pm PST

Our vote goes to Kira Walton @image.ie #imageinspires #businesswomanoftheyearaward #organicbeauty #trailblazer A photo posted by Spa PR (@spaprcompany) on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:05pm PST

We had to snap this outfit on @smohsmoh with My Life Solutions wearing #folksterdotcom @shopfolkster #bwoty15 #imageinspires – A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:44am PST

There’s something ethereal about @xchupi tonight, she looks like an angel #bwoty15 #imageinspires A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:55am PST

Making good use of a very long selfie stick with @joles and @hartesarah of @Dhrcomms #BWOTY15 #IMAGEinspires pic.twitter.com/8FI90pjpUe – Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) November 2, 2015

Girls girls girls #BWOTY15 #ImageInspires #BernieInspires A photo posted by worldBOX – Click – Fill – Ship (@worldbox.irl) on Nov 2, 2015 at 3:15pm PST

Flower wall @kanyewestworld style @image.ie #BWOTY15 #awards #girls #cocktails – A photo posted by @kdksisters on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:27pm PST

The Smurfettes! @image.ie #BWOTY15 #IMAGEinspires #table4 @ucdsmurfitschool A photo posted by A V R I L – (@avrildonohue) on Nov 2, 2015 at 2:14pm PST

Our venue was also beautifully decked out:

Rehearsing with PAT KENNY!!!! @image_magazine #BWOTY15 #IMAGEinspires pic.twitter.com/7OV7fSxI1p – melanie morris (@melaniemorris) November 2, 2015

Our fab table! #BWOTY #ImageInspires #WomeninBusiness #BronwynConroyBS A photo posted by Bronwyn Conroy (@bronwynconroy) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:21pm PST

Time to celebrate #BWOTY15 #ImageInspires – A photo posted by worldBOX – Click – Fill – Ship (@worldbox.irl) on Nov 2, 2015 at 3:09pm PST

Fabulous table settings at @image.ie #bwoty15 #imageinspires #waxperts ???? A photo posted by Waxperts Wax? (@waxpertswax) on Nov 2, 2015 at 11:52am PST

Dessert got me like….#nom #BWOTY15 #ImageInspires – A photo posted by Louise Kirwan (@loodie_lou) on Nov 2, 2015 at 2:54pm PST

We are finally here no thanks to fog! Good luck @kathleentogo from @stelladotuk and all the nominees #BWOTY15 #imageinspires #nominees A photo posted by Tara O’Connor (@taradoll74) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:47pm PST

Aren’t these the prettiest? #imageinspires #bwoty15 #flowers @appassionatalovesflowers – A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 8:45am PST

 

Listening to the Lifetime Achievement Award winner @IMAGEie #BWOTY15 saying success is nothing without people to share it with ?? – Chupi (@xChupi) November 2, 2015

Inspiring night @IMAGEie@image_magazine @bwoty15 and to the amazing Ann – Marie @annmariemua loved my makeup x pic.twitter.com/1f1Zj1PBiA – Denise Bell (@niceybell) November 3, 2015

Pat Kenny revealed his lifelong ‘battle’ with IMAGE…

Pat Kenny remembers long running gripe with @IMAGEie who once called him “thinking woman’s crumpet”. #IMAGEinspires #BWOTY15 @PatKennyNT – TheWomensPodcast (@ITWomensPodcast) November 2, 2015

Well done to @AnneHeraty on winning @image_magazine @IMAGEie #BWOTY15 pic.twitter.com/MW1jqH4d0a – EOY Ireland (@EOYIreland) November 2, 2015

Oh! I won tweeter of the night! #BWOTY15 @IMAGEie thanks image pic.twitter.com/j9uGZTcWsc – Dominique McMullan (@BobbleheadMo) November 2, 2015

These are only a small selection of the fabulous snaps from the fun last night, see our Twitter: #IMAGEinspires and BYOTY15?and Instagram?for plenty more. And once again, check out our list of winners HERE. Also, thank you to our fabulous IMAGE.ie Deputy Editor Caroline Foran and Senior Editor Jeanne Sutton who were on social media duty during the festivities.

On our way to steal your man / run social media for the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards tonight. #IMAGEinspires – A photo posted by IMAGE (@image.ie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 8:40am PST

We're a proud event sponsor of #BWOTY15 & last night @nutritionie won a #CelebrityCruises holiday! Congrats! pic.twitter.com/gLiMWdTGv7

— Celebrity Cruises UK (@CelebrityUK) November 3, 2015

The IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2015 are in association with Samsung, Electric Ireland, No7, AIB, Kuehne + Nagel, Versatile Bathrooms & Interiors and Weir & Sons, and supported by Newstalk, Independent.ie, Enterprise Ireland and Marks & Spencer. Winners were announced at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dublin, Burlington Road.