In the first programme of this series Ernst &Young sends the Chair of the Judging Panel, Padraig O'Ceidigh, out on the road to meet the finalists in the emerging category.

This group of eight are the youngest of the contenders. The programme features Wexford based Swede, Fred Karlsson, as well as a more familiar Wexford face in Liam Griffin. In Dublin, we meet Mr. Smiles, Emmet O'Neill, the online gaming entrepreneur Dylan Collins, and just over from his base in Spain, Declan O'Halloran.

Sean Carty enjoys the bright lights of the big city of Dublin at night, while most people will recognize the face of celebrity chef and entrepreneur Neven Maguire. Finally we head to Shanghai to meet California based, Conrad Burke.

Many home grown Irish companies have an international reach. Rita Shah came to Ireland for 6 months and after 20 years and a thriving recycling business shows no signs of leaving. Australian doctor Johnny Walker seems equally settled. His business evolved from his experience with medicine in the outback. Aiden Lee and Dan Byrne both credit their previous multi-national employers with giving them many of the opportunities they now have as self-employed businessmen.

Padraig catches up with Brian Conlon of First Derivatives as he takes on 90 new employees. Richard Cullen and his father Peter make sweets for a living, 10 million gourmet jelly beans per day. Philip Reynolds, son of Albert, also learnt much about business from his father. His Longford based company, C&D foods, is growing internationally with a recently acquired plant in Holland. US based Robert O'Donnell meets up with Padraig at Thomond Park, where the pair discuss the Munster versus Connacht rivalry, as well as business.

The industry category features businesses from one end of the country to the other. Clonakilty is the name of a town in Cork which is also home to the well known black pudding brand - Clonakilty Black Pudding. Colette Twomey is guardian of the secret recipe. Further down the road is Jim Barry who is taking on the might of the big name supermarket chains with his low cost alternatives. Brothers Mike and Pat Glennon's timber businss has diversified and broadened their customer base outside of Ireland. In previous years, 80% of their business was Ireland based, now 80% of their business is international. Another duo in this group is Malcolm Bell and Dave Sullivan, former college mates, together they set up a pharmaceutical and diagnostic company that numbers nearly all the top names in the pharmaceutical industry as clients.

Terence Donnelly drives a mean car. The former champion rally driver takes Padraig's breath away on the track. Further down the road in Belfast Michael Guerin explains how his pharmacy chain not only sells drugs but could diagnose minor ailments should Padraig need it. Eamonn O'Hare is proving it's still possible to run a construction business, he's just completed Belfast's tallest building, the Obel Tower. John Toner got a job in Williams Industrial. Eighteen months later he bought the company.

Now that's entrepreneurial!

Back at Ernst & Young Head Quarters, Frank O'Keeffe - Partner in Charge of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year and the judging panel assess all twenty four finalists. The winners of each category, a special award winner and the overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 will be revealed on October 21st. Tune in to RTE One on the 21st of October at 22:45pm.

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