Omagh Business Awards 2026 celebrates the best of local business in spectacular style

OMAGH’S business community came together for an unforgettable evening of celebration on Saturday, as the Omagh Business Awards 2026 recognised the outstanding businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals helping to drive the local economy forward.

Hosted by Omagh Chamber of Commerce at Canavans, Garvaghy, the prestigious black-tie event brought together representatives from across the local business community for an evening filled with celebration, recognition and entertainment.

The awards once again demonstrated the remarkable diversity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses throughout Omagh and the surrounding areas, recognising achievements across sectors including retail, hospitality, construction, professional services, health, beauty and digital marketing.

With more than 96,000 public votes cast in the lead-up to the event, the awards attracted an exceptional level of community engagement, highlighting the tremendous support local people have for the businesses operating on their doorstep.

The evening was expertly hosted by the sensational Caoimhe McGinley and Grainne McCoy, whose humour, energy and infectious enthusiasm ensured a fantastic atmosphere from beginning to end.

Among the evening's standout successes was Mairead of Clarity by Midwife Mairead, who celebrated a remarkable double victory, taking home both the Professional Services Award and the Mental Health & Wellbeing Award.

It was also a memorable evening for Ryan Tracey and Duff Land NI, with the business receiving the Family Business of the Year Award.

Ryan went on to receive one of the evening's most prestigious honours, the Dominic McCanny - Spirit of Omagh Award.

Presented annually by Omagh Chamber of Commerce, this special accolade recognises an individual who embodies the generosity, dedication and community spirit for which Omagh is renowned.

Widely known as The Balloon Man, Ryan has become a familiar and much-loved figure through his entertainment work, creativity and commitment to community initiatives. His contribution to local organisations and projects, including his involvement with Omagh Community House, made him a fitting recipient of this special recognition.

Another of the evening's headline awards, Business Person of the Year, was presented to Laura Murphy, founder and director of Oat Co Superfuel, recognising her entrepreneurial ambition, leadership and achievements in business.

The Best New Start-Up Business Award was presented to Neil Mellon of Mellon Properties, celebrating the determination and vision involved in establishing a successful new enterprise.

In the hospitality sector, Aidan and Louise McBride of Mackey's Coffee were crowned Coffee Shop / Patisserie of the Year, while Arthur's took home the Bar / Restaurant of the Year Award.

The local health, fitness and beauty industries were also well represented, with Kirsty from United Fitness celebrating Gym of the Year, Shannon Beattie and the team at Honey Hair and Beauty winning Hair Salon of the Year, and Clodagh McKenna and her team at Beyond Beauty securing Beauty Salon of the Year.

Recognising the importance of innovation and excellence in the digital sector, Sarah McCaffrey of Sarah McCaffrey Social Media Marketing was awarded Best Use of Social Media / Digital Marketing.

In the retail sector, JP McCanny and the team at McCanny's Centra Culmore were named Retailer of the Year, while Lowry's Building & Civil Engineering received the Construction, Engineering & Manufacturing Business of the Year Award.

Meanwhile, Omagh Credit Union celebrated success after being named Large Enterprise of the Year, recognising its contribution to the local business and wider community.

Speaking following the event, Omagh Chamber of Commerce President, John Edgar reflected on the importance of recognising and supporting the local business community.

"These awards are about much more than recognising individual achievements. They are about celebrating the people behind our local businesses - the hard work, determination, long hours and personal sacrifices that go into building and sustaining successful enterprises.

"Every business represented at the awards contributes something valuable to our local economy and community. From small independent businesses and family-run enterprises to larger employers, each plays an important role in making Omagh a vibrant place to live, work and do business.

"On behalf of Omagh Chamber of Commerce, I want to congratulate every winner, finalist and nominee, and thank everyone who helped make this year's event such a fantastic success."

Omagh Chamber of Commerce was also delighted to welcome Air Ambulance Northern Ireland as its official charity partner for the 2026 awards.

During the evening, guests were given an insight into the extraordinary work carried out by the charity and its role in supporting the delivery of lifesaving pre-hospital critical care across Northern Ireland.

Guests were encouraged to support the charity through donations, reinforcing the Chamber's commitment to giving back to the wider community.

The success of the Omagh Business Awards 2026 would not have been possible without the generous support of the event's sponsors, the dedication of the Chamber team and the enthusiasm of the wider business community.

Omagh Chamber of Commerce extends its sincere thanks to all sponsors, supporters, volunteers and guests who contributed to making the evening such a memorable occasion.

As the Chamber looks ahead to 2027, it is encouraging even more local businesses to become involved in its activities, helping to strengthen connections, promote collaboration and ensure the business community has a strong collective voice.

The Chamber continues to work on behalf of businesses throughout Omagh and the surrounding area, championing local enterprise, highlighting challenges and creating opportunities for businesses to connect and grow.

The Omagh Business Awards 2026 may have drawn to a close, but the message from the evening was clear - Omagh is home to an exceptional business community with much to celebrate and an exciting future ahead.