Dunloy farmer Sharon Gault wins £1,000 and secures place in NI business final with traditional farm business
Entrepreneur Sharon Gault celebrates with Cllr Dawn Higgins, Mayor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, after she won the Causeway Coast and Glens Ultimate Pitch final, securing her place in the regional final with her business Kingsbarn Farm, which rears grass fed additive free meat
Friday 09 October 2026
A traditional farm outside Dunloy has secured £1,000 in investment and a place in a Northern Ireland-wide business competition final after impressing judges with its approach to producing grass-fed, additive-free meat.
Sharon Gault, who runs Kingsbarn Farm, won the Causeway Coast and Glens heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch and will now compete for a further £5,000 to help grow the business.
The competition, organised by the government-backed enterprise support service Go Succeed, brought together 10 entrepreneurs from across the borough at Flowerfield Arts Centre in Coleraine.
Traditional farming earns winning pitch
Kingsbarn Farm sells meat directly from its premises, with livestock traditionally reared on grass and without routine medicines.
The farm also grows its own winter feed without artificial fertiliser or additives, reflecting its focus on traditional farming methods and food production.
Sharon's winning pitch secured the £1,000 local investment award and a place among entrepreneurs representing Northern Ireland's 11 council areas at the regional final in November.
Recognition for two other local businesses
Cllr Dawn Higgins, Mayor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council joins the winners of the Causeway Coast and Glens Ultimate Pitch final, from left, overall winner Sharon Gault who secured her place in the regional final with her business Kingsbarn Farm, which rears grass fed additive free meat, Nadine Donaghy who won the Inclusive Entrepreneurship award, and Social Impact award winner Shannon McCloskey
Two other entrepreneurs were recognised for businesses addressing wellbeing, inclusion and personal confidence.
Shannon McCloskey received the Social Impact Award for One Step at a Time, which provides mental health and wellbeing services to schools.
Nadine Donaghy won the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award for Halo Hair Toppers, a business providing affordable, customisable human hair toppers to help people experiencing hair loss regain their confidence.
Mayor praises local entrepreneurs
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Higgins, welcomed the achievements of those taking part.
She said:
“Local businesses are at the heart of our communities, and it’s fantastic to see so many entrepreneurs showcasing their ambition through Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch.
“Congratulations to everyone who stepped forward and shared their story, idea and vision -and a special congratulations to Shannon on winning the local heat. We’ll be proudly cheering you on at the final in November!”
The mayor's statement named Shannon as the local heat winner, although the competition announcement identifies Sharon Gault of Kingsbarn Farm as the overall heat winner.
Regional final offers further investment
Winners from each of Northern Ireland's 11 council areas will compete at The Ultimate Pitch regional final at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, on Wednesday 18 November.
The overall winner will receive £5,000 in investment alongside a business development prize package, including:
• A professional photography session from Brian Thompson Photography.
• A podcast recording session from Attention X Studio NI.
• Membership of Toastmasters.
• A media training session from LK Communications.
Additional awards will recognise businesses and entrepreneurs across four categories:
• Social Impact Award – recognising businesses making a positive social difference.
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award – celebrating inclusive business enterprise.
• Rising Star Award – recognising an inspiring entrepreneur aged 16 to 25.
• People's Choice Award – decided by public votes.
Each category winner will receive £1,500 towards their business idea.
Support for businesses across Northern Ireland
Go Succeed is funded by the UK Government and delivered through Northern Ireland's 11 councils, providing support to people starting businesses and those looking to develop existing enterprises.
Its services include mentoring, business masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning assistance.
Further information is available at www.go-succeed.com.
For Sharon Gault, November's final offers another opportunity to secure investment and bring greater recognition to Kingsbarn Farm's traditional approach to producing meat, while showcasing the entrepreneurial talent emerging from the Causeway Coast and Glens area.
