Donagh Kelly named Business Person of the Year by Donegal Dublin Business Network

Donagh Kelly, CEO of the Circet Group Ireland and the UK, has been named by the Donegal Dublin Business Network as their inaugural Business Person of the Year for 2024.

The Frosses native was honoured at a gala dinner hosted by the Donegal Dublin Business Network in the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday evening. A special commissioned bronze and marble sculpture, designed by Letterkenny artist Redmond Herrity, was presented to the honouree Donagh Kelly.

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Commenting on the award Donagh Kelly said “It is a real pleasure to accept the inaugural DDBN Business Person of the Year Award. It is of a particular sense of pride to be recognised by your own kin. Donegal is my life and it is great to celebrate this Award with so many county folk. I’d like to acknowledge the great work of the Donegal Dublin Business Network in supporting business at home and in the capital.”

Andrew McGinley and Donagh Kelly

Garrett Harte, Chairman of the DDBN said it was a pleasure to award the entrepreneur the inaugural DDBN Business Person of the Year for 2024. “The introduction of the inaugural Business Person of the Year award is to recognise and celebrate the pivotal contribution an individual from the county has made to the business community in Ireland and beyond.

“Donagh Kelly is undoubtedly one of Donegal’s most successful businessmen at the helm of global telecoms giant Circet with over €4 billion euro turnover annually. Donagh’s generosity with his time, quietly helping individuals and community projects across Donegal speaks volumes about his character and his desire to give back to his roots.”

The Circet Table at the DDBN Event

The DDBN Christmas Dinner raised €14,000 for the charity “As Darragh Did”, set up by Andrew McGinley in the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley. The charity has donated over €65,000 to 38 different communities and local sport projects across Donegal . Projects that promote integration, inclusion and that seek to get people participating locally.