Bray Chamber’s President’s Dinner was yet another superb success for the local organisation with almost 200 guests turning out at the Glenview Hotel last Friday (6 February) for the annual glamourous and high profile event.
Chamber President and State Solicitor for County Wicklow Rory Benville welcomed distinguished guest speakers Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality, along with the French Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Jean-Pierre Thebault, to this year’s event. Also in attendance was Minister of State at the Departments of Finance, PER & Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, as well as An Cathaoileach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Christopher Fox. Others special guests included An Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr John Brady, as well as deputies Anne Ferris, Andrew Doyle and Billy Timmins, along with Chief Superintendent of An Garda Siochana Tom Conway and Superintendent Pat Ward.
Addressing the audience of business representatives from across Bray and North Wicklow, Minister Fitzgerald paid tribute to the continued commitment of the local business community through the recent years towards maintaining investment in new jobs and in sustaining existing employment. She said this commitment is now being reflected in a return to growth for the business sector both locally and nationally which in turn is resulting in an increasing opportunity for new job creation.
His Excellency Jean-Pierre Thebault thanked those in attendance on behalf of everyone in France for the solidarity shown to the French people and to the French ideals of free speech and thought. He praised the enduring connections between Ireland and France and invited the business family of Bray and North Wicklow to strengthen and deepen its bonds with their business partners in France for the mutual benefit of both communities.
Commenting after event, Chamber President Rory Benville said:
“I was truly honoured to welcome such high profile guests and my friends in the wider business community to this year’s Bray Chamber President’s Dinner. The event was yet another superb success for everyone involved in the Chamber, and most importantly a really enjoyable night with such outstanding and thought provoking keynote speeches from our distinguished guests, Minister Fitzgerald and Ambassador Thebault, as well as from our very own Wicklow Minister, Simon Harris. We have been fortunate this year as in so many other years to be joined by many eminent speakers, both national and international, which reflects well on how highly regarded our town and indeed our Chamber is.
“I am particularly pleased that we hosted this year’s President’s Dinner at The Glenview Hotel. A long-standing supporter of Bray Chamber, it was fitting that we would host the event in The Glenview as it celebrates 100 years of continual business this year.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the organisers of this year’s event – in particular Katrina Farrelly Cooke, Paul Prendergast and Kathy O’Toole – for all their efforts in producing such a memorable and enjoyable occasion for everyone.”
Following the dinner guests relaxed with an evening of networking – as you would expect from all those associated with Bray Chamber – as well as entertainment and dancing. Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards the President’s Annual Charity Appeal which this year is supporting The Simon Community among others.
Ends