Co Cavan-based McBreen Environmental was the standout performer at the Facilities Management Awards 2026, claiming two trophies, including the main award for overall excellence. The company delivers technology-driven drainage and environmental services for the FM sector, and its double win reflected a consistent focus on investment in people, technology and client insight.“There was a lot of competition in the sector, so it was tough to win tonight,” said Orla Clarke, sales and marketing manager. “We work with many facility management companies and we’re always looking to understand our customers’ pain points so we can make things better and easier for them. I believe that’s why we won our awards.”McBreen Environmental was one of five organisations to take home two trophies on the night. Platform94 won in the workplace performance and estates manager categories, while JLL, LinkedIn and Bidvest Noonan also doubled up across the evening’s 29 categories. The awards attracted 155 entries from across the sector.Hosted by Mario Rosenstock, the awards took place at the Royal Dublin Convention Centre, with more than 460 industry professionals in attendance. Now in its 13th year, the awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership across Ireland’s FM sector, celebrating achievement in operational efficiency, workplace optimisation, risk and compliance management and sustainable facilities practices.Francis Lyons, chief executive at awards sponsor ECAT Group, remarked that most people never see the work that keeps offices, hospitals, schools, airports and nursing homes running every day. “Behind every facility are dedicated people quietly keeping spaces safe, clean, compliant and working smoothly. The FM Awards recognises their indispensable service,” he said.Liam Smith, sales director at platinum sponsor Tork, said: “Tork is delighted to sponsor the FM Awards, an event that champions excellence in facilities management. We are committed to supporting facility managers in delivering superior cleaning standards, operational efficiency and healthier work environments. It was a privilege to engage with industry leaders, share knowledge and celebrate all finalists, with special congratulations to the winners for their remarkable achievements.”On the individual side, there was award recognition for Shane Darcy of SOS Group, Maeve Boland of Gilead Sciences Ireland, Catalina Farcasanu of Qualitas Property Partners and Derek McDonald, who was presented with the Facilities Management Leader 2026 award.McDonald is senior facilities manager Europe at AMD, and his professional journey spans two decades and three big global organisations. In his current role he oversees integrated workplace strategy across 28 offices in 14 countries.On receiving his award, McDonald said: “Strong leadership is particularly important in FM. If you’d asked people 15 to 20 years ago how they ended up in FM, most would have said they fell into it. Now far more people are starting out in FM by choice and securing the qualifications. Having strong leaders who can articulate the added value of facilities to organisations means the future is extremely bright for the industry.”Les Sheridan, managing director of Mitie Ireland, said the company is a long-standing awards sponsor and backs the awards for showcasing excellence in facilities management. “As the flagship event in the FM calendar, they celebrate outstanding people, teams and projects that enhance building experiences and underline the value delivered to clients daily,” he said.Carlos Garcia, chief executive at award winner Total Clean, said: “It’s hard work, and we’ve knocked on the door several times over the years, so it’s great to finally win and have that hard work recognised. The calibre of the contestants is phenomenal, and we’re honoured to be amongst them.”Mary Banks, office facilities manager at Tirlán Hybrid, said that leading organisations such as Tirlán are emerging as blueprints for sustainable, high-performing workplaces, “demonstrating how facilities strategy and thoughtful design can support collaboration, wellbeing and modern ways of working”.Judging coordinator Alex Magee said the quality of submissions this year reflected how significantly the profession has evolved. “Facilities management today extends far beyond the maintenance of physical assets,” he said. “It plays a vital role in supporting organisational performance, employee wellbeing and environmental responsibility.”Kevin O’Driscoll, director of partnership programmes at award organiser Business River, said: “Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors. We are thankful to our 2026 platinum sponsors, ECAT Group, Mitie Ireland and Tork. Our gold sponsors, Synergy Security Solutions, Sensori, CBRE Global Workplace Solutions Ireland, Bidvest Noonan, Portobello Institute, Flexéir Facilities Services, Kärcher Ireland, Western Hygiene, ISS Ireland, SOS Group, Berka Solutions and McKeon Group, Panda, Sodexo, ABM Ireland and Ascension Lifts. I also want to recognise our supporter, Amárach Research. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.”Awards judgesAlex Magee (judging coordinator) – lecturer, Atlantic Technological UniversityOwen Brennan – group head of facilities, Grace HealthcareFionnuala Byrne – senior director – real estate & workplace services EMEA, GoogleMarie Caffrey – director, Universal FloralJohn Cunniffe – director, G4S FM IrelandMartina Daly – senior manager EHS, security and facilities, Microchip Technology IrelandBrian Fitzpatrick – owner, IsambardIan Glendon – chief infrastructure officer, Technological University DublinTim Hysom – operations director, AnabasBarry Kelly – head of facilities, National College Of Art & DesignHugh Kenny – owner, CoatekCarmel Lindkvist – professor, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyAlisha Martin – sales director, Assure Compliance ServicesStan Mitchell – chief executive officer, Key Facilities ManagementDenis O’Connor – director of real estate, University of GalwayGillian O’Connor – chief operations officer, Universal FloralJohn Powell – head of corporate services, Premier Irish HomesEileen Slamon – retired workplace managerStephen Toomey – head of facilities management, Trinity College DublinJude Torley – chief executive, ShabraKeith Weston – director of engineering, Powerscourt HotelAward winnersOverall excellence in facilities management (Sponsored by ECAT Group)Winner: McBreen EnvironmentalDarragh Herd, head of sales, ECAT Group, presents the overall excellence in facilities management award to Orla Clarke, McBreen Environmental Workplace and estates manager of the year (Sponsored by Mitie Ireland)Winner: Thomas Fisher – Platform94Ivan Mannion, strategy and growth director, Mitie Ireland, presents the workplace and estates manager of the year award to Thomas Fisher, Platform94 Workplace and estates team of the year (Sponsored by Mitie Ireland)Winner: Southern Regional CollegeIvan Mannion, strategy and growth director, Mitie Ireland, presents the workplace and estates team of the year award to Gary Young, Southern Regional College FM service provider team of the year (Sponsored by Western Hygiene)Winner: Mitie Facilities Management – Vodafone TeamMartin Conneely, business development representative, Western Hygiene, presents the FM service provider team of the year award to the Mitie Facilities Management team Specialist FM service provider of the yearWinner: McBreen Environmental Ian Glendon, awards judge, presents the specialist FM service provider of the year award to Orla Clarke, McBreen Environmental Total FM service provider of the year (Sponsored by Tork)Winner: OCS IrelandLiam Smith, sales director, Tork, presents the total FM service provider of the year award to Áine Mulcahy, OCS Ireland FM project of the year – public sector Winner: Bidvest Noonan – National Aquatic Centre: Smart Building Management & IoT Condition Monitoring TransformationEileen Slamon, awards judge, presents the FM project of the year – public sector award to the Bidvest Noonan team FM project of the year – private sectorWinner: JLL and LinkedIn – Dublin Campus TransitionOwen Brennan, awards judge, presents the FM project of the year – private sector award to the JLL and LinkedIn Team Best facilityWinner: NIE NetworksChris English, head of customer success, ECAT Group, presents the best facility award to Mark Foster and Nicola McGrath, NIE Networks Workspace transformation awardWinner: Tirlán Hybrid – Smart Workplace ProgrammeSusan Howard, operations director of healthcare, Bidvest Noonan, presents the workspace transformation award to the Tirlán Hybrid team Best workplace performance (Sponsored by Bidvest Noonan)Winner: Platform94Alan Durnan, managing director, Bidvest Noonan, presents the best workplace performance award to Thomas Fisher and Marie Donnellan, Platform94 Client and service provider partnership of the year – TFM (Sponsored by Panda)Winner: JLL and LinkedInApril Willoughby, head of property, construction, sales strategy and transformation, Panda, presents the client and service provider partnership of the year – TFM award to the JLL and LinkedIn Team Client and service provider partnership of the year – specialist servicesWinner: Work Space and Next RetailOwen Brennan, awards judge, presents the client and service provider partnership of the year – specialist services award to Richard Cheevers and Ruth McIlroy, Work Space Property management team of the year (Sponsored by Berka Solutions and McKeon Group)Winner: Aramark Property – Capital Dock TeamBernard MacOscair, managing director, Berka Solutions, presents the property management team of the year award to Drew Armstrong and Kyle Denny, Aramark Property Property management company of the year (Sponsored by Synergy Security Solutions)Winner: Wyse Property ManagementNoel Hennessy, commercial manager, Synergy Security Solutions, presents the property management company of the year award to Carl Gillic and Karolina Bradshaw, Wyse Property Management Facilities management CSR initiative of the year (Sponsored by ISS Ireland)Winner: Sodexo Ireland – Stop HungerEric Doyle, managing director, ISS Ireland, presents the facilities management CSR initiative of the year award to Deirdre Saunders, Sodexo Ireland Best people development in facilities management (Sponsored by Portobello Institute)Winner: Flexéir Facilities Services – ElevateGerry Kelly, programme lead facilities management faculty, Portobello Institute, presents the best people development in facilities management award to Anthony Walsh, Flexéir Facilities Services Diversity and inclusivity award (Sponsored by SOS Group)Winner: Aura Holohan GroupRonan McDonnell, operations director, SOS Group, presents the diversity and inclusivity award to Narcisa Popovici, Aura Holohan Group FM service provider professional of the year (Sponsored by ECAT Group)Winner: Shane Darcy – SOS GroupFrancis Lyons, chief executive, ECAT Group, presents the FM service provider professional of the year award to Shane Darcy, SOS Group Women in facilities management award – large organisationWinner: Maeve Boland – Gilead Sciences IrelandAnn Hughes, QHSE and risk director, Mitie Ireland, presents the women in facilities management award – large organisation to Maeve Boland, Gilead Sciences Ireland Women in facilities management award (Sponsored by Flexéir Facilities Services)Winner: Catalina Farcasanu – Qualitas Property PartnersAnthony Walsh, managing director, Flexéir Facilities Services, presents the women in facilities management award to Catalina Farcasanu, Qualitas Property Partners Excellence in health & safety (Sponsored by Ascension Lifts)Winner: Bidvest Noonan – Good CatchRobert Byrne, managing director, Ascension Lifts, presents the excellence in health and safety award to Martina Donohoe, Bidvest Noonan Excellence in sustainability – in house (Sponsored by Sensori Group)Winner: Johnson & Johnson Vision LimerickMark M Cullen, senior contracts manager, Sensori Group, presents the excellence in sustainability – in house award to Carol Meagher, Johnson & Johnson Vision Limerick Excellence in sustainability – service provider (Sponsored by Tork)Winner: MCR Group – ÍON Environmental Programme and GreensceneDavid Norton, key account manager, Tork, presents the excellence in sustainability – service provider award to Eddie O'Sullivan, MCR Group Cleaning service provider of the year – TFM (Sponsored by Kärcher Ireland)Winner: Apleona IrelandPaul Carroll, managing director, Kärcher Ireland, presents the cleaning service provider of the year – TFM award to Aleksandra Krakowiak, Apleona Ireland Cleaning service provider of the year – specialist (Sponsored by Kärcher Ireland)Winner: ISS Facilities Services IrelandMark Keeley, sales manager, Kärcher Ireland, presents the cleaning service provider of the year – specialist award to Mark Cummins, ISS Facilities Services Ireland Innovation in technology & systems – end users (Sponsored by ABM Ireland)Winner: Total Clean – MySiteOpsElaine Corbally, sales director, ABM Ireland, presents the innovation in technology and systems – end users award to Carlos Garcia and Ronan McCool, Total Clean Innovation in technology & systems – providers (Sponsored by CBRE Global Workplace Solutions Ireland)Winner: Fexillon – Platform and TwinEdward Peters, executive director, CBRE GWS Enterprise Accounts UK and Ireland, presents the innovation in technology and systems providers award to Harley Harold, Fexillon Facilities management leader 2026 (Sponsored by Sodexo)Recipient: Derek McDonaldDeirdre Saunders, divisional director, Sodexo, presents the facilities management leader 2026 award to Derek McDonald