A celebration of Newry business community at President’s Banquet

The Chamber’s inspirational president, Edwina Flynn, who is now nearing the end of her two-year term, delivered a superb president’s address on the day, offering a wonderful reflection on leadership, progress and community.

Guest speaker for this year’s President’s Banquet was Jarlath Burns, a man who has worn many hats, including Armagh captain, school principal, respected sports commentator, and now President of the GAA, one of the largest amateur sporting organisations in the world.

The chamber said it was also delighted to help raise £3,500 from its charity raffle due to the generosity of guests for the Chamber’s 2025 Charity Partner, Women’s Aid Armagh Down.

This takes the total raised from the fundraising efforts this year to more than £12,000 for Women’s Aid, a local charity that provides a vital service for many vulnerable people within the local community.

The event was held on Friday, October 17 in the Canal Court Hotel, kindly supported by the hotel, Wood Innovations and Ulster Bank.

During her speech, Ms Flynn, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, reflected on her time in office, and the progress the chamber is making in promoting the economic needs of the region locally, nationally and internationally.

She said: “Like all good reflections, my mind was drawn to the moments that made it to the highlight reel of my presidency. I thought of all the coffees and conversations, meetings and moments, speeches and smiles. I thought of all the faces I’ve seen, the hands shaken, the encouragement given, and wisdom shared.

“I thought of this time last year, when we welcomed our First and Deputy First Minister to Newry, to the Canal Court Hotel.

“I thought of laughter and selfies from Washington to Westminster; from the Oireachtas to back home to Newry. I thought of connection and partnership and, if collaboration really is the true currency of leadership, then Newry is one of the richest of them all.

“And ‘if in dreams begin responsibility’, then in Newry we dream bold and lead wisely. And if ‘show me your friends, and I’ll show you who you are becoming’ really is the measuring stick of where we’re going, then I feel deeply honoured through my presidency to have been shown the friends of Newry and to have caught a glimpse of the Newry we are becoming.

“For I can show you friends that stretch across the world who are already talking about Newry’s future and potential.

“I can show you the optimists, the believers, the connectors, the dreamers who see what Newry can be, not just what it has been.

“And I can show you the doers, often working quietly behind the scenes, pushing for better, even when the odds are stacked against them.

“And I can show you a community that believes it deserves a seat at every table and isn’t afraid to use its voice, and I will show you a region that refuses to be left behind.

“And I am proud that Newry Chamber has been at the heart of those connections - a catalyst for change and the promoter of progress.”

The banquet also marked the fourth year of the Newry Chamber President’s Award.

This honour is the most prestigious award presented by the chamber and is bestowed upon visionary leaders from the local business community.

The award celebrates not just business leadership, but a lasting contribution to the local economy and community.

This year’s recipient was Feargal McCormack, the founder of FPM Chartered Accountants.

Previous recipients included, posthumously to the late Brian Conlon and Lord Ballyedmond in 2022; founder of Glen Dimplex Martin Naughton in 2023; and, last year, Paddy and John McParland, owners of the Canal Court Hotel & Spa.

Feargal is a highly respected and deep-rooted member of the local business community, having founded FPM Chartered Accountants in Newry back in 1991 and growing it into one of Ireland’s leading advisory businesses.

Along with the help of his colleagues past and present, who Feargal is always the first to mention, he grew a business that not only set new standards of professionalism but pioneered new models of growth and partnership, including the first private equity merger of its kind in Ireland, with AAB in 2022.

Even as he steps back from their day-to-day leadership role as Head of Ireland for the firm, it was said that he is not someone who sits still and he continues to serve as Senior Partner and Head of Family Business for the AAB Group, supporting entrepreneurs across this island to build stronger, more sustainable enterprises.

Feargal’s leadership has also reached far beyond his own business, through roles as President of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Pro-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Chairman of the GAA National Finance Committee in Croke Park, and Patron of Special Olympics Ireland.

Feargal has also been recognised by both Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast with honorary doctorates for his contribution to business and to society.

Feargal is a proud Warrenpoint man and a proud family man.

They are, he said, his pride and joy, and his wife, Anne, and son, Ruairi, were among the audience at the event to see Feargal receive the prestigious Newry Chamber President’s Award.