By Tina-Marie O’Neill
Property Editor, Business Post
The inaugural National Property Awards took place in April 2022 at the five-star InterContinental Hotel in Dublin 4 with resounding success.
One of the first black-tie property events to take place in more than two years, the full-to-capacity banquet event had a charged air, with some 365 people in attendance and a further eight tables on a cancellation list.
The awards, hosted by broadcaster Ivan Yates, celebrated the best achievements from across the property sector in Ireland.
Organised by iQuest and Business Post Live chief executive Sarah Murphy and her team, and sponsored by Deloitte, Proptech Ireland, Rohan Holdings, CORE, Yardi and Quanta, the awards hosted 13 categories, which were judged by a panel of industry experts.
John Doddy, a partner at lead sponsor Deloitte, and head of the firm’s real estate division, said: “The National Property Awards is a hugely important event to us as it gives recognition to the people across the sector who are best in class, going above and beyond what the industry expects.”
Amid the enjoyment of gathering after the pandemic, the hosts marked the passing of industry icons such as property developer Joe Cosgrave earlier this year.
Hooke & MacDonald were voted as the Real Estate Agency of the Year 2022.
The organises also delighted in presenting Ken MacDonald, managing director of Hooke & MacDonald, with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of the impact he has had on the property industry in Ireland, including the revitalisation of Dublin’s inner city over the past half-century.
Accepting his award, MacDonald said: “Large parts of the city centre were no-go areas 30 or 40 years ago. But I’m only a small part of it; it was developers, builders, government agencies and the local authority all got together and we all did our bit.
“It was companies like the Cosgraves who really got stuck into developing the city centre. Great credit must go to developers and builders involved in the city’s development, who often get criticised for various things, but I don’t think people realise the financial risks they take and the quality of sustainable buildings they deliver.
“I am honoured to accept this prestigious award, which I would regard as not just for me, but recognition of the calibre and expertise of our teams at Hooke & MacDonald over several decades in the work of urban rejuvenation and boosting housing supply for the sale and rental markets.
Receiving two awards on the night for Cairn Homes, Chief
Executive Michael Stanley said:
“We’re only part of an industry proving that we’re all trying
to solve the housing crisis.”
