The Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) was delighted to host the Tony Boyle Business Success Awards 2025 last week at the Irish Embassy in Lisbon, celebrating outstanding business achievement, sustainability, and cross-border collaboration between Ireland and Portugal.

Held in partnership with IPBN Executive Partner Otonomee, the event brought together IPBN members, business leaders, policymakers, and partners for a morning of recognition, reflection, and connection. Attendance was exceptionally strong, reflecting the continued growth and engagement of the Ireland–Portugal business community.

These awards honour the legacy of James Anthony “Tony” Boyle, IPBN founder and former Chair, whose vision, integrity, and commitment to building bridges between Ireland and Portugal continue to guide the network’s mission.

The ceremony opened with words of welcome from Geoffrey Graham, Chair of the IPBN, followed by an address from Alma Ní Choigligh, Ambassador of Ireland to Portugal, whose remarks underscored the depth of the bilateral relationship and the importance of values-led, sustainable growth.

Celebrating the 2025 Award Winners

Following a rigorous judging process based on innovation, sustainability, employment impact, and contribution to Ireland–Portugal business relations, three member companies were recognised for excellence:

Headquartered in Dublin with significant operations in Lisbon, Druid Sport, represented by Diarmuid Crowley, was recognised for its bold and significant transformation of the traditional sports agency model. Judges noted its innovative shift toward long-term rights ownership and joint ventures, its genuinely cross-border operating structure, and its lean, sustainable global footprint. Druid’s deep ties to both Ireland and Portugal, combined with its international reach, exemplified the spirit of the IPBN and the legacy of Tony Boyle.

PURUS, represented by Edmundo Alarcão, was recognised for excellence in sustainability and cultural impact. The boutique hospitality group impressed judges with its heritage-led business model, restoring historic Portuguese properties through adaptive reuse while creating long-term employment and regional economic value. PURUS demonstrated best-in-class sustainability practices, deep community integration, and a mature, long-term strategic vision that positions it as a serious and responsible operator in the tourism sector.

Lazer Telecom, represented by Des Wynne, was recognised for its regional impact and operational excellence. As the Algarve’s leading fibre internet provider, Lazer stood out for its strong sustainability credentials, including renewable energy use, carbon-neutral operations, and an EV fleet. Judges highlighted the company’s exceptional customer satisfaction, commercial performance, and meaningful contribution to local employment and connectivity in underserved areas.

The three winning companies were later welcomed, alongside IPBN Board Members and Executive Partners, to a celebratory lunch at the Irish Ambassador’s Residence, marking a fitting close to a day that combined recognition with relationship-building.

Otonomee’s Partnership and Perspective

As headline sponsor of the awards, Otonomee played a central role in supporting the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Hilary O’Shea, Co-Founder and Chief Corporate Officer of Otonomee, highlighted the importance of initiatives like the Tony Boyle Awards:

“We are extremely proud to sponsor the IPBN Tony Boyle Business Success Awards. From the very beginning of our journey in Portugal, IPBN was instrumental in helping us build trusted relationships and navigate a new market. These awards don’t just celebrate success — they create energy, inspiration, and real opportunities for founders and teams operating across both countries.”

Founded in Cork in 2020 and now employing more than 600 people globally — the majority based in Portugal — Otonomee’s own growth story reflects the values and cross-border collaboration that the awards aim to promote.

A Growing Network, A Shared Future

The IPBN Tony Boyle Business Success Awards continue to play a vital role in showcasing the diversity, resilience, and ambition of businesses operating between Ireland and Portugal. This year’s event once again demonstrated the strength of the network, the quality of its members, and the appetite for deeper collaboration across sectors.

As Geoffrey Graham, Chair of the IPBN, elegantly summarized the event, 

“These inaugural Awards dedicated to Tony truly resonated ten years after the IPBN reincarnation as an inclusive, diverse, and genuinely entrepreneurial network that generates business and business opportunities. Diarmuid from Druid sat on the first Board, Des from Lazer flourishes in the telecoms sector, and Edmundo from Purus demonstrated that the entrepreneurship journey often begins early in the right landscape. Hillary and Aidan O’Shea’s own story shows that with the necessary vision, drive, and belief, cross-border businesses can be scaled dramatically and remarkably quickly. The origin stories of these businesses invariably frame future success by instilling a unique and identifiable DNA that distinguishes them from competitors. These are inspiring stories of entrepreneurship.”

The IPBN extends its sincere thanks to all applicants, attendees, partners, and supporters who contributed to a memorable and meaningful celebration of Irish–Portuguese business success, and are so proud to be in a position to continue Tony’s legacy.