The Local Enterprise Awards for 2026 taok place recently in the Mansion House in Dublin. The awards are a celebration of the very best small businesses from across the country and serve to highlight the work that Local Enterprise Offices are doing with up-and-coming enterprises in every local authority area in the country.
The 31 finalists have each been chosen by their Local Enterprise Office to represent them and their area at the awards, which are in their 26th year. The finalists feature a diverse mix of sectors and founders all competing for a share of the €80,000 prize fund and the chance to be named National Enterprise of the Year. There are also regional awards, and categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, the Innovation Award, Digital Award, Green Award and the Female Entrepreneur award.
I caught up with three of the finalists, and the third finalist I spoke to was Dean Kelly one of the co-founders of Photo Experience and the Offaly finalist won the Digital Award at the National Enterprise Awards. Dean talks to me about his background, what Photo Experience does, Covid, AI, National Enterprise Awards, LEO and more.
More about Photo Experience:
Photo Experience designs and installs technology-driven photography systems for theme parks, water parks, zoos, museums, and other visitor attractions. The technology combines hardware, software and operational know-how to capture guest experiences in real time and provide instant images.
The business currently employees four full time members of staff. Photo Experience is designed to address both guest experience but also the commercial aspect, allowing experience photography to be easily accessed, bought and sold.
