Sixteen young Irish entrepreneurs have been selected as finalists in the first Shell LiveWIRE Business Start-Up awards.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Croke Park on September 15th by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy.

The short-listed finalists are Ms Louise Lonergan, Mr Paul Keely, Ms Lucy Downes, Mr Ivan O'Connor, Mr Karl Llewellyn, Mr Michael Kelly, Mr Gavin Gallagher, Mr David English, Mr Timothy Quinlan, Mr Noel Daly, Ms Dympha Curry, Mr Jack Donaghy, Mr Troy Armour, Ms Clare Hughes, Ms Louise Grubb and Mr John Brennan.