View this email in your browser THE IRISH TIMES Business Today Friday, 20 February, 2026 Editor's Note Good morning, reader Niall Browne of Dawn Meats has been named Businessperson of the Year at the eighth annual Irish Times Business Awards in the Mansion House on Thursday night. The award comes on the back of the Waterford-based meat processor receiving the green light to acquire a majority stake in New Zealand’s biggest meat processor, Alliance Group. Elsewhere, Áine Kennedy won the Future Leader award from The Irish Times as CRH and Greencore’s acquisition of Bakkover also took home awards. Galway’s Castle Group won the Local Business of the Year award. Michael Smurfit meanwhile received the distinguished leader award on the night. One of Ireland’s best known business executives, Smurfit also spoke to Ciaran Hancock for the interview of the week. Continue Reading Peter Flanagan   TOP BUSINESS STORIES Business Icon faces big test after share price tumble Business Michael Smurfit: ‘I just wanted to make sure we made better brown boxes than anyone else, and we did’ Business New vape tax delivering less than half of ‘conservative’ Government projections Economy Aer Lingus College Football Classic generated €132m for Irish economy Business Politicians must axe Dublin Airport passenger cap in weeks, Aer Lingus warns Eoin Burke-Kennedy Why haven’t Trump’s tariffs caused a downturn in the US? MORE BUSINESS STORIES Business Niall Browne of Dawn Meats named The Irish Times Business Person of the Year Business Áine Kennedy named Future Leader as CRH and Greencore scoop gongs at Irish Times Business Awards Business Galway’s Castle Group wins Local Business of the Year award from The Irish Times Business Companies owned by ‘Banty’ McEnaney and his wider family were paid €35.6m for homeless accommodation