Tipperary entrepreneur Pat Ryan, founder of Ryans Cleaning, has been honoured with the President’s Award at the County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards 2026, recognising his contribution to enterprise, leadership and the wider business community in Tipperary.
The prestigious award, sponsored by Bulmers, was presented to Pat Ryan during the County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards ceremony held at Hotel Minella in Clonmel on Friday, 25 September 2026. More than 400 guests attended the event, which celebrated businesses, entrepreneurs and leaders making an impact across County Tipperary.
The President’s Award is among the highest honours presented by County Tipperary Chamber. It recognises an individual whose achievements, leadership and commitment have made a lasting contribution to enterprise and the local community.
Pat Ryan Recognised for Business Leadership
Pat Ryan has built a strong reputation through his work with Ryans Cleaning, a family-run business that provides specialist cleaning and waste-management services for major events and venues across Ireland and the UK.
Together with his wife, Philomena, Ryan developed the company from a small Tipperary-based operation into an established service provider supporting some of the region’s largest and most demanding events.
Ryans Cleaning has worked across a wide range of event environments, including major festivals, race meetings, sporting occasions and venues. The company operates largely behind the scenes, providing essential cleaning and waste-management support that helps venues and organisers maintain high standards before, during and after events.
Its work has placed the company at events and venues visited by millions of people, making reliability, preparation and operational efficiency essential elements of its service.
Building a Family Business from the Ground Up
The story behind Ryans Cleaning reflects the importance of family enterprise and long-term business development. Pat and Philomena Ryan built the company over time, developing its capabilities and establishing relationships with major clients across Ireland and the UK.
The business has grown within a highly demanding part of the events sector, where cleaning, waste management and venue services need to be delivered efficiently and often under significant time pressure.
For event organisers, the work carried out by specialist service providers is an important part of successful event operations. From large festivals and sporting events to race meetings and major venues, cleaning and waste management must be carefully coordinated to ensure that facilities remain safe, functional and presentable for attendees.
County Tipperary Chamber Praises Pat Ryan
Presenting the President’s Award, County Tipperary Chamber President John O’Shaughnessy highlighted Ryan’s entrepreneurial approach and ability to build trust with clients.
O’Shaughnessy said Pat Ryan identified an opportunity in an area that many people considered difficult and built a successful business around delivering consistently when it mattered most.
He also highlighted Ryan’s ability to develop a team capable of operating in demanding environments and pointed to the entrepreneur’s well-known belief that “you are only as good as your last gig.”
That philosophy reflects the importance Ryan places on maintaining standards and delivering reliable service at every event, regardless of the size or complexity of the operation.
Enterprise, Resilience and Family
Michelle Aylward, Chief Executive of County Tipperary Chamber, also praised Pat and Philomena Ryan for the development of their business and its contribution to the local economy.
Aylward described their journey as one of enterprise, resilience and family, highlighting how the couple built their company from the ground up before establishing Ryans Cleaning as a trusted Tipperary business serving major events in Ireland and the UK.
She also noted the role of the next generation in continuing the knowledge, values and leadership developed through the family business.
The transition of experience and responsibility to the next generation represents an important aspect of the Ryans Cleaning story, demonstrating how family-owned businesses can develop over multiple stages while retaining their original values.
Pat Ryan Thanks Family and Ryans Cleaning Team
Accepting the President’s Award, Pat Ryan reflected on the importance of preparation, teamwork and delivering on commitments.
Ryan reiterated his belief that every event presents different challenges, while the responsibility to prepare properly, support employees and deliver promised services remains consistent.
He dedicated the recognition to his wife Philomena, his family and the wider Ryans Cleaning team.
Ryan also acknowledged the contribution of the people working behind the scenes, whose efforts are essential to ensuring that major events run smoothly.
His comments underlined the team-focused approach that has helped Ryans Cleaning establish itself within the event services sector.
Supporting Ireland’s Major Events Industry
Specialist cleaning and waste-management services play an important role in the successful delivery of large-scale events. While audiences often focus on entertainment, sporting action, exhibitions and other visible aspects of an event, extensive operational work takes place behind the scenes.
Companies such as Ryans Cleaning support this infrastructure by helping venues and organisers manage cleaning requirements and waste generated by large crowds.
For festivals, race meetings and sporting events, these services can involve working to strict schedules and adapting quickly to changing operational requirements.
Ryans Cleaning has developed its business around this demanding environment, providing services across Ireland and the UK and building relationships with clients that rely on consistent delivery.
County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards 2026
The County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards 2026 brought together more than 400 guests at Hotel Minella in Clonmel to recognise business achievements across the county.
The awards ceremony provided an opportunity to highlight entrepreneurs, businesses and organisations contributing to the economic and business landscape of Tipperary.
The event was hosted by Tipp FM’s Fran Curry and featured recognition across a range of business categories, with the President’s Award representing one of the evening’s highest individual honours.
Pat Ryan’s recognition reflects both his personal business journey and the wider contribution of family-owned enterprises to the local economy.
A Lasting Contribution to Tipperary Enterprise
The President’s Award presented to Pat Ryan marks the recognition of a business journey built on hard work, reliability and long-term relationships.
From its beginnings as a small Tipperary operation, Ryans Cleaning has developed into a business serving major events and venues across Ireland and the UK. Its growth has been closely connected to the changing requirements of the events industry and the need for specialist operational support.
For Pat and Philomena Ryan, the award also represents recognition for the wider family and team behind the business.
As the next generation becomes increasingly involved in the company, the values that helped establish Ryans Cleaning continue to provide a foundation for its future.
The County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards 2026 therefore provided an opportunity not only to celebrate Pat Ryan’s achievements, but also to recognise the people and enterprise behind a successful Tipperary family business.
