Jim Power
Economist
Economist Jim Power opens with his outlook for the industry, then speaks with the sponsors individually across three round tables. He closes the business briefing by bringing together the insights from those conversations.
Irish Steel Awards 2026 · Friday 16 October 2026
Come for the day. Not just the dinner.
Join your peers and the Awards sponsors at the Midlands Park Hotel from 2:30pm for an afternoon of conversation and insight into the industry. Catch up with people you know, meet people you don't, and give yourselves time to talk before the evening begins.
Free to attend from 2:30pm at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. Everyone in the industry is welcome.
Have gala seats? Say yes to the afternoon through your existing RSVP link.
The Afternoon Business Briefing
Have the conversations you rarely get time for.
The afternoon gives you time to sit down with people who understand the work you do. Hear how things look from their side of the industry, talk through what's on your mind and get to know each other beyond an email or a phone call.
Time with your peers
Compare notes with other fabricators about the work coming in, the challenges you're dealing with and how they're approaching them. Catch up with familiar faces and make a few introductions over a drink.
A conversation with the sponsors
The Awards sponsors bring a view of the industry from the businesses supplying and supporting it. Jim Power will open with his outlook on the economy, trade, costs and demand, then visit three round tables to speak with the sponsors. Hear what they're seeing and get to know the people behind the companies you work with. Jim then brings those conversations together in a closing summary, with insights you can take back to the office on Monday. There are no stands or slideshows; the focus is on the conversations.
Meet the Awards sponsors
The suppliers, services and partners supporting this year's Awards will be joining the afternoon. Take a look at who's coming and who you'd like to catch up with.
Headline Sponsor
Lead Sponsors
Associate Sponsors
Affiliate Sponsors
How the afternoon runs
Industry insights and time to talk are at the heart of the afternoon, with tea, coffee, biscuits and some beer on us. Come in casual clothes; there's time to change before the gala reception.
Please have lunch before you arrive, and bring two business cards for check-in and your badge.
Andrea Woods
Midland Steel director & comedian
A director at Midland Steel, Andrea is also known for her comedy on TikTok and on stage. She won Comedy InstaStar at the 2025 STELLAR InstaStar Awards and joins us to round off the afternoon with a laugh and draw the prize winners.
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Arrivals and networking
Meet the sponsors and chat over tea, coffee, biscuits or a beer.
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Jim Power opens the briefing
Jim Power addresses the room with his economic outlook.
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Sponsor discussions
Jim speaks with the sponsors individually at the round tables.
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Jim's closing summary
Jim summarises the insights gathered from the round table discussions.
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Comedy with Andrea Woods
Andrea Woods entertains the room.
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The raffle
Andrea runs the raffle and draws the winning tickets.
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Get ready for the gala
Time to get ready for the evening.
The afternoon prize draw
Win a trip to New York
A three-night trip for two, drawn by Andrea Woods at the end of the afternoon.
How to enter
Free draw tickets are handed out at the door to fabricators. Andrea Woods draws the winners at the end of the afternoon, and you must be in the room. Sponsors, their teams and the Irish Steel team aren't eligible. Terms and conditions apply.
Join us for the afternoonA luxurious weekend at the Midlands Park Hotel
Second prize is a weekend for two at the Midlands Park Hotel in a couples' deluxe bedroom, with dinner, prosecco and chocolates on arrival.
Make an afternoon of it together
Coming with a partner? There's an optional programme alongside the briefing, so you can travel down together for 2:30pm.
The hotel's offer includes short beauty treatments between 2pm and 5pm, use of the leisure centre, and afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco in the Triog restaurant at €25 per person. Short treatments must be booked at least a week in advance. Hair appointments for a wash and blow-dry or an up-style are available at two salons in town. Book all activities in advance through the Midlands Park Hotel on +353 (0)57 867 8588.
Join us from 2:30pm
Can you join us for the afternoon?
The afternoon is free to attend, whether or not you have a seat at the gala. Bring a colleague who'd enjoy meeting other people in the industry.
If you have gala seats, say yes to the afternoon through your RSVP link. If you're joining us just for the afternoon, use the registration form below.
The gala
An evening to celebrate Irish steel.
The reception, the dinner and the presentation of the 2026 Irish Steel Awards. Fabricators, engineers and partners from every corner of the country, the shortlisted projects up on the big screens, and the winners announced on the night.
Gala seats are fully allocated, and we're looking forward to seeing everyone on the night.
The evening programme
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Drinks reception
Join us for the drinks reception before dinner.
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Dinner
Dinner, with menu choices and dietary requirements arranged through your RSVP.
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The Awards
The Awards. Every category, every shortlisted project on the screens, and the winners called up to the stage.
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Stay for a nightcap
The bar stays open and the night runs on at the hotel.
The 2026 Awards
14 categories presented on the night, with the shortlisted projects up on the screens as each one is called. Have a look at who's in the running before you go.
Project categories
Constructional Steelwork – Buildings · Constructional Steelwork – Civil Works · Constructional Steelwork – Sheds · Constructional Steelwork – Special Projects · Engineering & Fabricated Assemblies · Industrial Engineering – Construction Projects · Industrial Engineering – Equipment Manufacturing · Architectural Metalwork – Staircases · Architectural Metalwork – Boundaries · Architectural Metalwork – Balconies · Architectural Metalwork – Façades · Architectural Metalwork – Special Projects · Unusual & Restoration Projects
Extra Mile
Initiatives – Innovation
Where to stay
The Midlands Park Hotel is fully booked for Awards night. Contact the Maldron Hotel Portlaoise for availability and mention the Irish Steel Awards.
Midlands Park Hotel
Fully booked
The gala venue. Bedrooms are now fully booked.
Maldron Hotel Portlaoise
On the Abbeyleix Road, a few minutes from the venue.
- Single occupancy: €160 bed & breakfast
- Double or twin occupancy: €175 bed & breakfast
Rates are per room per night and subject to availability.
Last year's night
A few from the 2025 gala at the Midlands Park Hotel.
Questions
Do I need a ticket for the afternoon?
No, it's free. Let us know through your gala RSVP or the registration form on this page if you can, as it helps us plan numbers. Bring two business cards for check-in and your badge. You're still welcome to come along if your plans change, even if you haven't registered or your RSVP says no.
I'm not going to the dinner. Can I still come to the afternoon?
Yes. The afternoon is open to everyone in the industry. Use the registration form on this page to let us know you're coming, and bring a colleague if they'd like to join you.
What time should I be there?
Join us from 2:30pm for the afternoon. The gala drinks reception begins at 6:30pm.
How does the New York draw work?
Free draw tickets are handed out at the door to fabricators. Andrea Woods draws the winners at the end of the afternoon, and you must be in the room. Sponsors, their teams and the Irish Steel team aren't eligible. Terms and conditions apply.
Is there food in the afternoon?
There is no food service during the briefing, so please have lunch before you arrive. Tea, coffee, biscuits and some beer are on us.
What about partners and guests?
Partners and guests are welcome at the briefing. The optional programme alongside it includes treatments, use of the leisure facilities and afternoon tea. Book in advance through the Midlands Park Hotel on +353 (0)57 867 8588. Beauty treatments must be booked at least a week ahead.
I was invited by my company to fill in my own details. Where do I say yes?
Use the link in your menu invitation email, or ask your company contact to send you the guest link. The afternoon question sits right beside your menu choices.
Where do I stay?
The Midlands Park Hotel is fully booked. Contact the Maldron Hotel Portlaoise for availability; its details are on this page.
Count yourself in for the afternoon
Got gala seats? Your company contact has a private RSVP link from the Awards team, and every attendee gets asked about the afternoon beside their menu choices.
Invited by your company to fill in your own details? Use the link in your menu invitation email. Your company contact can also send you the separate guest link.
No seat at the dinner? Register for the afternoon here, it's free.
No link, or not sure who your contact is? Email awards@irishsteel.ie.