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We still can’t believe another year is done. After months of planning and preparation, over 800 guests donned their finest gowns to join us in celebrating the 2018 IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards at the Clayton Hotel Dublin, Burlington Road on Monday night. In what is quite a milestone, this was our 12th year hosting the awards gala which honoured the incredible businesswoman of Ireland and their fantastic accomplishments thus far. We popped bottles of Cava on arrival (generously given from Marks and Spencer) and sipped on stunning (and incredibly delicious) cocktails provided by Dingle Gin Distillery infused with fever tree tonic and garnished with orange and juniper berries.
The IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year 2018 – and the winners are…
In between the networking and carefully orchestrated selfies (at our selfie mirror station created by Virgin Media Ireland), guests had the chance to get a quick makeup touch-up at our No7 beauty lounge before the main gala event in the glamorous ballroom. An incredible balloon display designed by Bespoke Balloons provided the backdrop for perfect selfies and outfit shots while enchanting feather displays created by Griffin and Grey added the perfect touch of after-dark cabaret. And who could forget our amazing opening act, The Function Band?
At dinner, we raised our glasses of Marks & Spencer wine while excited attendees checked out their goody bags that included bespoke Chupi stationary and a beautiful Melissa Curry bangle. Each of the winners then gracefully took to the stage to accept their awards, hosted by Editor-in-Chief Melanie Morris and INM Group Business Editor, Dearbhail McDonald. We honoured Anne Harris, journalist and former editor of the Sunday Independent and our own IMAGE magazine, with our Lifetime Achievement Award at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Other winners throughout the evening included Jennifer Taaffe of iZest Marketing (The Digital & Technical Businesswoman of the Year Award), Fiona Heany of FeeGClothing (Creative Businesswoman of the Year) and Helena Ryan of WellFest (Young Businesswoman of the Year Award)
Related: A defiant, dazzling and gracious evening for Irish women
Sometimes having a little bit of power makes it difficult to remember what it’s like to have no power – life lessons from #BWOTY18 Lifetime Award Winner Anne Harris. Honest & Hilarious pic.twitter.com/k0MnTEUDBV
Who wore what on the night? Ailbhe Garrihy chose a stunning draped, waterfall-style dress in a blazing red colour by Zalando. Louise Cooney chose an elegant midi-length silver and black dress from The Ivory Closet, while Xpose’s Cassie Stokes looked totally dazzling in a floor-length Folkster gown, complete with delicate tassel detailing on the sleeves.
And, of course, there is the infamous group selfies…
#BWOTY18 trended all night thanks to the enthusiastic tweeting, snapping and Instagram shots. If you missed out, you can watch the night again on our Instagram highlights. Here are some more social media highlights from the empowering night:
The evening was generously sponsored by Liffey Valley, BMW, Samsung, Kuehne + Nagel, No7, Irish Life Health, Cairn PLC and Virgin Media Business and supported by Newstalk, Irish Independent, Enterprise Ireland, Movement, Griffin and Grey, DIngle Gin Distillery and Marks & Spencer.