Record-breaking Enterprise Day
Over 150 female entrepreneurs attend Mid-West event
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Pictured at the National Women’s Enterprise Day in Dromoland Castle are Mid-West LEO Team with Aimee Connolly, of Sculped by Aimee. From left to right: Aideen Corry, LEO Limerick; Mary Ryan, LEO Tipperary; Aimee Connolly, guest speaker and Deirdre Keating, LEO Clare. ArthurEllisPhotographyImage 2 of 4
From left are Celine Kinnane, Tina Mulhearne and Madeline Ryan, LEO Tipperary attending the Mid West Region’s National Women’s Enterprise Day at Dromoland Castle. photos: Arthur Ellis ArthurEllisPhotographyImage 3 of 4
Donna Cummins, Zip Yard, Nenagh; Muireann Larkin, Mary Ryan, LEO Tipp; Niamh O’Connor, Quigley’s Bakery, Katie O’Sullivan, My Dietician. Nenagh. ArthurEllisPhotographyImage 4 of 4
LEO Tipperary members with Aimee Connolly at the National Women’s Enterprise Day at Dromoland Castle. ArthurEllisPhotographyA new record attendance for National Women’s Enterprise Day was set at events that took place across the country in October. Over 2,200 female entrepreneurs and women in business attended the 14 Local Enterprise Office led events nationwide, the most that has attended the day since its inception in 2006.
It was also revealed that so far this year, 64% of those who availed of training this year by the Local Enterprise Offices were women and that 61% of the participants in the Local Enterprise Offices Start Your Own Business programme in 2024 have been female.
This year’s Mid-West event was hosted by LEO Clare and saw over 150 female entrepreneurs hear from guest speakers and panellists as well as having the opportunity to network with likeminded business owners at Dromoland Castle. The event circulates between LEOs Tipperary, Clare and Limerick and next year’s event takes place at Cashel Palace in October.
This was the 18th year of National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) and the theme of this year’s event was, ‘Making it Happen’. The event aims to encourage businesswomen to take that next step, whether that be to act on an idea, grow their business or take steps to change or innovate in their business. The event also highlights the supports available to early stage small businesses from funding and grants to mentoring and training.
The event headlined with Aimee Connolly, founder and CEO of Sculpted by Aimee, who told of her start-up story, current and future, to make it happen. Panellists included Tipperary’s Claire Brett of Dublin Herbalist, Clare’s Hannah Wrixon, CEO of Kella and Limerick based Nell Stritch founder of Pressed Flowers by Nell.
Mary Ryan, Senior Development Officer at Tipperary LEO, said: “It is fantastic to see a record turnout for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day. It is important to recognise the importance of these events which help female entrepreneurs and women in business grow their networks and see there is support within their community to help get them started and to grow their businesses. This event featuring some amazing businesses and female entrepreneurs telling their stories of how they got started and overcame challenges highlights the importance of the day showcasing the very best of our female entrepreneurs and showing those who hope to take that leap in the future that the support is there.”
The Local Enterprise Offices also run several initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the Country. These include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships and Local Enterprise Showcase.
The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.
FURTHER DETAILS
For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED.