A local business award celebrating good deeds in the community has been presented in memory of former Tindle Radio Managing Director Albert FitzGerald.
Laois Chamber, which brings together companies in the local region of the Midlands of Ireland, honoured Albert, who died in August aged 59, by giving the Spirit of Laois Award at its recent awards in his name.
The broadcaster and businessman worked for 26 years for Tindle station Midlands 103, which serves communities across Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Ireland, becoming a leading figure in Irish radio.
The Spirit award, which celebrated “those whose good deeds may have gone unnoticed”, was announced at the awards ceremony on Friday (Nov 4).
Albert’s son Stephen presented the award in memory of his father to winner Karen McHugh, the Chairperson of Laois Integration Network.
Outstanding contribution
The other finalists were Gerry Browne, Mountmellick Neighbourhood Watch and Portlaoise Family Resource Centre.
The Chamber award is the latest celebration of the former MD’s contribution to business and local life. In September Albert was honoured with a place in the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame for making an outstanding contribution to radio, which Albert’s wife Siobhán accepted on behalf of his family at a ceremony.
Having started his commercial radio career at Cork pirate station ERI, Albert joined Midlands 103 in 1995 as Sales Director, before becoming Managing Director nine years later. In 2013 he became Group Managing Director of the wider Tindle Radio Group, a role he held until last year.
Albert served as MD of Midlands 103 until last year and won multiple awards, becoming a well-known and popular figure in the Midlands business community.
Nearly 800 nominations were submitted across the 11 Chamber categories as Laois businesses celebrated at the Laois Business Awards 2022 in The Heritage Killenard, with nearly 300 people attending the black tie event.