CONGRATULATIONS to Elaine O’Farrell on winning a business award in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel last weekend.

Elaine is a fixture in the winner’s enclosure at most racecourses, where she and husband Declan supply signage and branded material through their Race Displays company. They also have a horse in training with Tom Dreaper.

However, Elaine also has a side hustle in the shape of Eco-Friendly Cups, which manufactures and supplies branded recyclable cups, mainly for sporting events and conferences.

At last weekend’s Pakman Awards, which honours Ireland’s leaders in sustainability, EcoCups won the Best Single Use Plastic Initiative Award for its innovative approach to reducing waste. In 2024, the company washed and reused over two million cups, including substituting 150,000 single-use cups with reusable alternatives at the Irish Open.