Two Donegal nominations for Builders Merchants Excellence Awards

Donegal has two nominations for the Octabuild Builders Merchants Excellence Awards 2024.

The Cope Topline Builders Providers, Dungloe has been shortlisted for the Connacht/Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan Regional Award of the Octabuild Builders Merchants Excellence Awards 2024. 

They are among four builders merchants to be shortlisted for this award. The others are from Mayo and Galway. They are Chadwicks Castlebar, Chadwicks Galway, and Joyce’s Home and Hardware. They are also one of two merchants from Donegal to have been shortlisted for an Award, with Inishowen Co-Op Carndonagh being shortlisted for the Community Outreach Award.

The Cope Topline Builders Providers operates from newly refurbished premises built on a three acre site, boasting a shopper friendly retail store, well stocked warehouse and yard, serviced by a friendly experienced team of 23 people from the local area. It is part of the wider community-owned Co-operative, The Cope, which has operated in the region for over 118 years. “Community and Shop Local is at the core of most everything we do, and it is our aspiration to continue this well into the future,” said John Paul McBride, General Manager.

Inishowen Co-Op Carndonagh has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Community Outreach Award in the Octabuild Builders Merchants Excellence Awards 2024. 

 Gareth Whitmore (CEO), Tony McColgan (Financial Controller), and Brendan Monagle (Purchasing Manager)

Inishowen Co-Op has been in business for over 60 years and Carndonagh is one of three branches in Donegal. 

“Inishowen Co-Op is very much focused on working with community partners, social enterprises and not-for-profits to help create a strong collaborative region where everyone can benefit,” CEO Gareth Whitmore said.

“This is especially important at this time for the region with the ongoing defective blocks crisis which affects all aspects of the community."

The Octabuild Awards, which have been recognising excellence in the builders merchant trade for over 35 years, continue with an all-island competition this year. There are 21 shortlisted builders merchants competing for four regional awards and five category awards. 

In addition there are nine contenders for the Rising Star Award, acknowledging the up-and-coming talent in the industry. The full shortlist is also available on the Octabuild 

website. 

The judges will be visiting all shortlisted merchants in the coming weeks to select the winners in each region and category as well as an overall winner.   The winners will be announced at an awards event on Thursday, October 17, in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.