Edward McCloskey has been named the overall EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 at the 28th annual awards gala held last evening (27 November) at Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. Founder and Executive Chairman of WaterWipes, McCloskey also takes home the International category award, recognising his leadership in building a global brand that has redefined the wipes category with its pure, innovative and sustainable products. In addition to WaterWipes, he owns and leads Boyne Valley Group, a portfolio of well-known FMCG brands including household names such as Chivers, McDonnell’s and Kinetica Sports Nutrition. Together, his businesses employ more than 650 people and continue to expand internationally, while maintaining a strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability.
Edward will go on to represent Ireland at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards in Monaco in June 2026.
Áine Kennedy, founder of The Smooth Company, was named winner of the Emerging category. Áine launched her business in 2022 from her attic to revolutionise haircare with innovative products designed to simplify routines and deliver salon-quality results at home. Today, her brand is loved worldwide, with customers in 70 countries. Her entrepreneurial journey reflects creativity and resilience, and her brand continues to grow rapidly.
Derek Foley Butler, CEO of GRID Finance, received the award for the Established category. Derek has built GRID Finance into a leading fintech platform dedicated to improving the financial health of SMEs. It is the only platform in Ireland where businesses can access their credit score and the first financial services B-Corp in the country. Since its launch in 2013, it has supported 25,000 jobs across 4,000 businesses, driving financial inclusion and resilience across Ireland’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The Sustainability award was presented to David Corcoran of Soltec Ireland Ltd, a company at the forefront of environmental services and waste management. For thirty years, Soltec has been an innovator in recovering and recycling hazardous waste, and under David’s leadership, the company has deepened its commitment to sustainability, continuing to drive progress and positioning itself as a key player in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
Each year, EY also presents a Special Recognition Award to individuals who have made a significant contribution to life on the island of Ireland through their vision, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This year, the prestigious honour was presented to Denis O’Brien, one of Ireland’s most prominent entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Denis has made a lasting impact through his business ventures and charitable initiatives, and dedicates significant time and energy to the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme, serving on the judging panel and mentoring finalists, reflecting his unwavering commitment to entrepreneurship on this island.
Now in its 28th year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme supports, promotes and connects a community of more than 680 entrepreneurs who collectively generate revenues of €28 billion and employ over 275,000 people across the island of Ireland.
Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland, commented:
“This was a celebration of the extraordinary talent and ambition that define Ireland’s entrepreneurial community. At a time when the global marketplace is changing at pace the role of entrepreneurs has never been more important. They create jobs, drive innovation and help Ireland to remain competitive on the world stage. We are incredibly proud of every finalist and winner last evening – not only for their business achievements, but for their resilience, creativity and commitment to making a positive impact. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ programme exists to champion these leaders and to foster a dynamic community of knowledge, support and collaboration. Their courage and vision remind us why entrepreneurship matters now more than ever.
This year, we are delighted to recognise Edward McCloskey as our overall winner. His entrepreneurial journey, from founding WaterWipes and transforming the global wipes category to leading Boyne Valley Group’s portfolio of household brands, is truly inspiring.
We also celebrate Áine, Derek and David, whose achievements highlight the diversity and strength of our entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are equally honoured to recognise Denis O’Brien for his exceptional contribution to Irish entrepreneurship and his unwavering support for this programme and its finalists.
All these amazing leaders are shaping the future with confidence and making a lasting impact on our economy and society.”
Harry Hughes, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2017 and Chair of the Judging Panel, said:
“Selecting winners from such an outstanding group of finalists was no easy task. Huge congratulations to Edward for his vision and determination, but every winner this year has demonstrated exceptional leadership and creativity. Our finalists deserve equal praise – their ambition and resilience throughout the programme have been inspiring. They are role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs, and their success stories show what’s possible when you combine courage with innovation.”
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.
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