Rachel Blackmore was honoured last night at the 48th annual Business and Finance Awards held at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Champion Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore, from Killenaule, received a special award for an outstanding contribution to Brand Ireland. In 2021, she became the first female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National. She also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories, including the Champion Hurdle, in 2021. Earlier this year she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Also honoured on the night were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ms von der Leyen accepted the Sutherland Leadership Award on behalf of the European Union, while Mr Zelensky was honoured with the TK Whitaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life. Mr Zelensky called for continued support for Ukraine’s application for EU membership.
Coillte Chief Executive Imelda Hurley was named Business Person of the Year while Ornua, which markets Kerrygold, was named Company of the Year.
Established in 1974, the Business and Finance Awards acknowledges excellence in innovation, growth and scale of individual business leaders and their teams.
