'Creating jobs, solving complex challenges and opening doors to opportunities': Northern Ireland entrepreneurs shine as five make EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 shortlist

The finalists of the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme have been revealed, with 24 entrepreneurs shortlisted from across the island of Ireland, including a strong showing from Northern Ireland.

This year’s finalists span a broad mix of sectors including consumer, technology, health and construction, collectively employing more than 3,000 people and generating revenues approaching €1bn. They have been selected across three categories – Emerging, Established and International – recognising different stages of business growth and impact.

Northern Ireland is represented by five entrepreneurs, reflecting the region’s continued strength in innovation, entrepreneurship and export-led growth.

In the Established category, John Lunn of Lunn’s Jewellers has been recognised for his leadership of one of the UK and Ireland’s best-known jewellery businesses, originally founded in 1954. He is joined by siblings Paul Vallely and Clare Walsh, who established Newry-based Kukoon two decades ago and have grown it into a successful online and retail brand.

The remaining Northern Ireland finalists have been shortlisted in the International category, highlighting businesses with significant export reach and global ambition. These include Brian Moloney, founder of Belfast-based StormHarvester, which specialises in real-time monitoring solutions for wastewater networks.

Also recognised is Maire Claire Reid of TST Group, a transport and logistics business headquartered in Ballymena, and brothers Paul Martin, Gary Martin and Mike Martin of Martin Group, a family-run real estate investment and development company based in Londonderry.

The 2026 programme marks the 29th year of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year initiative on the island of Ireland. Since its inception, it has supported more than 680 entrepreneurs, creating a strong all-island network focused on collaboration, mentoring and peer learning.

As part of the programme, all finalists will participate in a nine-month leadership development journey, including executive education, mentoring and engagement with the wider alumni network. A key milestone in the programme will be a CEO Retreat in Canada, offering participants an opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on strategic growth and innovation.

Organisers say this year’s cohort reflects the resilience and adaptability of entrepreneurs operating in an increasingly complex global environment, shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological advancement and evolving market dynamics.

Rob Heron, partner lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ in Northern Ireland, added: “Entrepreneurship in 2026 looks very different to even a few years ago. We are operating in a world shaped by geopolitical instability, rapid advances in AI and a level of economic uncertainty that demands creativity as much as resilience. Our finalists this year have not only adapted to this environment, but are shaping it.

“The 2026 cohort brings together entrepreneurs who are rethinking the possibilities of technology, from building standout consumer brands and advancing health and life‑sciences innovation, to delivering smarter construction and infrastructure solutions and creating entirely new business models from the ground up. They are creating jobs, solving complex challenges and opening doors to opportunities that did not exist before.

“The ingenuity and ambition we see across these 24 finalists reminds us why backing entrepreneurs matters now more than ever. They push boundaries, they take risks and they create the conditions for Northern Ireland to thrive in a volatile world. I am genuinely excited to welcome them into the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community and to support their journeys in the months ahead.”