"We're only grocers from Cork," said Mr Eoin McGettigan when he received the 23rd annual Irish Times/PA Consulting Management Award on behalf of Musgrave SuperValu-Centra in the luxurious surrounds of Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud last night.

Flattered as he was, the good "grocer" was keen to stress the firm would never have received the prize were it not for the efforts of its staff and franchisees who, presumably, were busy working at the time.

Busy too was the Taoiseach, who said he had met the social partners beforehand as they gathered for negotiations on a new national agreement and, no surprise, they all felt they had something important to say to him.

Mingling with the good and the great of the business world, Mr Ahern did not appear stressed by the day's political events. Among those present were leading figures from industry, financial services and the public services.

Presenting the award, the Taoiseach thanked Major T.B. McDowell, chairman of The Irish Times Trust Ltd, for his commitment and dedication to the award, which has been won by many of the top firms on the corporate scene in its long history.

"Twenty-three years ago, Major McDowell had the foresight to set up the award as a way to promote and celebrate management excellence. No one else in Ireland had the vision to do so," said Mr Ahern. "And I have no doubt that the award has built awareness about the need for new approaches to management among Irish companies."

The Taoiseach also thanked The Irish Times and PA Consulting for keeping this vision alive.

Major McDowell thanked the Taoiseach for his support. He thanked Mr Charles Hancock, formerly of PA, with whom the awards were originally planned.