Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely heaps praise on local businesses

LIMERICK senior hurling manager John Kiely has heaped praise on the local business community after picking up a special award from Chamber president Miriam O'Connor.

The Galbally man, who has led the Treatymen to four consecutive Liam MacCarthy cups, plus five straight Munster titles, was honoured for the positivity he has brought to Limerick at this year's Chamber Regional Business Awards.

He received a standing ovation as he was presented with the President's Award, a lifetime achievement style prize, from Ms O'Connor.

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Mr Kiely believes the good feeling brought about by the hurlers' trophy-laden era has spilt over into the business world.

"That positivity has definitely fed into the environment of the business world here in Limerick and into the economy as a whole," he said, "I've been in with a number of different businesses over the last number of years. And what I see is high-end technology, innovation, creativity, high-end value jobs."

"Without doubt the last five or six years, we'd like to think it has been a great time for sport in Limerick. But it's also been a fantastic time for business," he added.

Mr Kiely was in attendance at the Chamber Business Awards, alongside more than 400 business, political and community leaders across the region.

In doing so, he missed out on the All-Stars awards which took place at Dublin's RDS which saw the title of hurler of the year go to Patrickswell man Aaron Gillane.