Miconex has launched its 2026 search to find Ireland’s Favourite Local Business to champion local businesses in the run up to Christmas.
The competition aims to highlight the positive impact that local businesses have on local communities. Retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, health and beauty and service based businesses are all eligible to be nominated in the competition.
Ireland’s Favourite Local Business will be the business who has the most nominations at lovelocalwin.ie and will win a €1,000 Town & City Gift Card for one of over 16 Irish towns or cities, with one person who nominated the winner receiving a €1,000 Town & City Gift Card.
The Irish Town & City Gift Cards network generated €17.4m in sales in the country in 2025, delivering 335,000 specific visits to high streets and shopping districts in 2026, based on estimates of 3 trips into the town or city per gift card.
In 2026 Town & City Gift Cards research with over 1,000 people, 99% of Irish respondents said supporting local businesses and their community was important and 89% said supporting local businesses has become more important over the past 12 months.
Ireland’s Favourite Local Business last ran in 2024 with Sligo café, Ósta Café and Wine Bar, owned by hospitality veteran and champion of Irish producers Brid Torrades, picking up the accolade.
Brid Torrades commented: “We were very humbled and honoured to have been nominated and voted Ireland's Favourite Local Business 2024. This year we are celebrating our 20th year of local, sustainable business in Sligo. Our gratitude goes out to our suppliers, our customers, our team and all those who contribute to making Ósta a welcoming community while supporting our ethos of making the world a better place.”
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “Over 4000 businesses are part of our Town & City Gift Cards initiative in Ireland, with over €30m in cards sold to date and over 1 million in-store transactions through our cards. Driving real footfall and spend for local businesses is our clear mission. We’re launching Ireland’s Favourite Local Business 2026 to shine a light on the positive impact our local shops, restaurants, salons, cafés, attractions, hotels and services have on local communities across Ireland, and will be celebrating nominations as they come in.”
Enter Ireland's Favourite Local Business competition free at: www.lovelocalwin.ie and watch the video.
The competition closes on the 30th November 2026.
