The first of three shows profiling the finalists in this year's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year will be shown on RTÉ1 tonight at 11.05. The show will feature the eight contenders in the international category.

Those participating in this show are Gerard Brandon of Alltracel Pharmaceuticals Plc, Kevin Neville of Data Display Company, Tony McEnroe of Farran Technology, Hubert Watson of Fintec, John Concannon of JFC Manufacturing, Gerard Keenan of Keenan Systems, Sarah Newman and Andrew Collins of Needahotel.com and Aidan Heavey of Tullow Oil.

Programmes featuring the finalists in the industry and emerging categories will be aired on September 15th and 22nd, respectively.

The winner of the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced at the awards ceremony which will be held at Citywest Hotel on Thursday 29th September and will be broadcast live on RTÉ1.

This year's shortlist of 24 finalists was selected by the panel of 12 judges who reviewed entries from a range of businesses and individuals across the island of Ireland. Nominees, from the pharmaceutical, hospitality, food & drink, manufacturing and agribusiness industries, are divided into the three categories.

A winner will be selected in each of the three categories and one of those will be named Entrepreneur of the Year.

The overall winner will go on to represent Ireland in Monte Carlo at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year in May 2006, where the winner from each of the 40 countries, across six continents, will compete for the worldwide title.