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An Tánaiste announces 15 events nationwide on 12 October to celebrate National Women’s Enterprise Day 2017

Fifteen LEO-led events taking place across the country on Thursday, 12 October to encourage more women in Ireland to ‘open doors to new markets’ for their businesses

An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has launched the biggest-ever programme of events to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED), which is being organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) on Thursday, 12 October 2017.

All 31 LEOs, which jointly supported over 14,000 female entrepreneurs in 2016, are behind the initiative. They have enlisted the help of established female entrepreneurs to act as Local Ambassadors and share their success stories. Networking events featuring presentations by over 60 successful female entrepreneurs and business professionals will be held all over the country, from Cork to Donegal and from Mayo to Dublin.

The focus of National Women’s Enterprise Day for 2017 is on facilitating and encouraging access to new markets by female entrepreneurs. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports that 27% of early stage female entrepreneurs in Ireland expect to get more than a quarter of their revenues from overseas work. The LEOs have a range of supports that can help businesses to realise those expectations and the NWED events will feature female ambassadors who have already successfully availed of some of those supports.

Announcing the full programme of events for October 12th, An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD, said: “I am delighted to launch the biggest-ever programme of events to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day in October. ‘Open doors to new markets’ is a very fitting theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research shows that women in Ireland are ambitious to grow their businesses internationally and my Department, through the relevant agencies, are providing the necessary supports to help businesses explore and maximise the market opportunities available further afield. I would encourage even more women to use their LEO to avail of the many supports and help them maximise the potential of their business in new markets.”

Also attending the event, Enterprise Ireland’s Female Entrepreneurship Manager, Sarita Johnston, said: “Working with ambitious female led start-ups remains a key focus for Enterprise Ireland and we are very keen to work with women starting innovative businesses that are focused on building scale and expanding reach in new markets. In partnership with the LEOs and Local Authorities, Enterprise Ireland will continue to support and increase the number of female entrepreneurs with the global ambition to scale and succeed.”

Speaking on behalf of the Local Authorities, Philomena Poole, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: “We encourage female business owners and potential entrepreneurs to engage with their LEO to avail of the many supports available.   The increase in the number of new jobs created in 2016 was assisted by LEO targeted initiatives, such as the Enterprising Women’s Network across the country. Female entrepreneurs can help to drive their businesses forward through mentoring and training, financial supports and other tools all of which are available to them through the LEO network nationwide."

Evelyn Reddin of the Local Enterprise Offices said: “2017 will be the biggest National Women’s Enterprise Day yet with fifteen events taking place all over the country to help open more doors to new markets for Ireland’s female entrepreneurs. Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the LEOs support thousands of female entrepreneurs every year and we want to celebrate their inspiring success stories across the country on October 12th.”

This year’s Ambassadors include Mary-Ann O’ Brien of Lily O’ Brien’s Chocolates; Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, Ciara Clancy of Beats Medical; Lady Chanelle McCoy of Chanelle Medical; Fashion Designer Heidi Higgins, Sammy Leslie of Castle Leslie Estate, Dr. Xuemei Germaine of MicroGen; and Fionnuala Ardee of Kilruddery Estate Enterprises.

They’re joined by Frances McArdle of Height for Hire; Caitlin O’ Connor of Accelerating Performance; Deirdre Fee of Medical Mobility; Irene Queally of Pip and Pear; Oonagh Monahan of Alpha Omega Consultants; Sinead Gillard of Jinny’s Bakery in Leitrim; and finally, Margie Burns of Aviation Selection Consultants.

Other entrepreneurial speakers sharing their success stories at National Women’s Enterprise Day events will include Caroline Keeling of Keelings; Ramona Nicholas of Cara Pharmacy Group; Róisin Hogan of HIRO by Róisin; Sonya Lennon of Courtney Lennon; Niamh Sherwin Barry of Irish Fairy Door Company; Margaret O’Connor of Quigleys Bakery; and Deirdre McGlone of Harvey’s Point Hotel.

Tickets for National Women’s Enterprise Day events can be booked from the Local Enterprise Offices through www.nwed.ie and further details are available from @NWED on Twitter and @NWEDIreland on Facebook.

ENDS

For all media queries around National Women’s Enterprise Day, please contact Engage Ireland

Sarah Bohan on Tel: 01 427 8388 / 087 65 39936 / office @engageireland.com

Notes to Editor:

Photography Note:

Reproduction-free images from the programme launch of National Women’s Enterprise Day are available from Mark Stedman of Stedman Photography from 15.00 on Wednesday, September 20th 2017.

#NWED on Twitter @NWED / Facebook @NWEDIreland

National Women’s Enterprise Day 2017 Events, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (www.localenterprise.ie):

LEO

Event

Featuring

Carlow

A dinner event organised by LEOs in Carlow, Kilkenny   and Wexford at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel.

Fashion tech entrepreneur Sonya Lennon Dr. Xuemei   Germaine of MicroGen Biotech; Karen Keane of Bean & Goose; Maura Bell of   the Irish National Heritage Park and Caroline Wafer of EASE.

Cavan

A LEO Cavan evening event over dinner at Hotel Kilmore.

Frances McArdle of Height for Hire and Brenda Donohue,   RTE TV & Radio Presenter.      

Cork

A half-day event with lunch   organised by LEOs in Cork North and West, Cork City, South Cork and Kerry at   the Inchydoney Lodge and Spa Hotel in Clonakilty.

Deirdre Fee of Medical   Mobility; Fiona Gratzier of Unislim; Lorraine Higgins of Retail Excellence;   Alina Ui Chaollai of Tayto Ireland and best-selling author, Attracta   Burke.

Donegal

A LEO Donegal event in association with the Donegal   Women in Business Network at Dillons Hotel, Main Street in Letterkenny.

‘Managing your Time and Money’ guest speakers.

Dublin

A day-long event organised by LEOs in Dún   Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Dublin City and South Dublin at the Leopardstown   Pavilion. Special Guest: An Tánaiste and Minister For Business,   Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald T.D.

Ciara Clancy of Beats Medical; Jeanne Mahony of Hope   Beer; Sarah Kiely of Sadie’s Kitchen; Julie McLoughlin of Jano Design; Róisín   Hogan of HIRO by Róisín; Samantha Kelly of The Tweeting Goddess; Rebeka Kahn   of Rebeka Kahn Artwear; Celine Mullins of Adaptas Training; Ann Lanigan of   Enterprise Ireland; Sue O’Neill of the Small Firms Association.

Kildare

A LEO Kildare full-day inspiring event   with networking lunch and mentoring at Kildare Village in Kildare Town.

Mary-Ann O’ Brien of Lily O’ Brien’s   Chocolates, Karolynn MacHale of the Aria Boutique Naas and Lee-Ann McCarthy   of Kildare Village.

Laois

A half-day event over lunch organised by LEOs in Laois,   Offaly, Longford and Westmeath at the Heritage Hotel, Killenard.

Heidi Higgins - Fashion Designer; Ramona Nicholas of   the Cara Group; Bernice Moran   of The Be Sweet Company; Margaret   Jeffares of Good Food Ireland and Carole Coleman of RTE.

Leitrim

A LEO Leitrim morning event at The Landmark Hotel in   Carrick On Shannon.

Moira Geary of The Recombobulator.

Mayo

An afternoon event organised by LEOs in Mayo, Galway   and Roscommon at The Lodge at Ashford Castle in Cong.

Caitlin O’Connor of Accelerating Performance and various   speakers from the region, with Loretta Ni Ghabháin of Lorg Media as MC.

Meath

A half day event with lunch organised by LEOs in Meath   and Louth at the City North Hotel and Conference Centre in Gormanston, Co.   Meath.

Caroline Keeling of Keelings; Niamh Sherwin Barry of   Irish Fairy Door Company; Róisín Hogan of HIRO by Róisín; Margaret Robb of   Sweet Little Babies; and Margie Burns of Aviation Selection Consultants.

Monaghan

A LEO Monaghan evening event with dinner at the   Hillgrove Hotel on the Old Armagh Road.

Sammy Leslie of Castle Leslie Estate, Victoria Mary   Clarke and Lisa Marie Clinton of Avail Support.

Sligo

A LEO Sligo event at the Radisson Hotel in Ballincar.

Oonagh Monaghan of Alpha Omega Consultants, Deirdre   McGlone of Harvey’s Point Hotel and Ruth Daly of Sort-It Professional   Training and Networking.

Tipperary      

A   day-long event organised by LEOs in Tipperary, Clare and Limerick at the   Lakeside Hotel in Ballina.

Lady   Chanelle McCoy of Chanelle Medical; Celia Holman Lee of the Holman Lee Model   Agency; Catherine Duffy of Northern Trust; Rita Guinan of LEO Tipperary;   Orlaith Borthwick of the Action Plan for Jobs Mid-West; Margaret O’Connor of   Quigleys Bakery; Tara-Lee Byrne of Wicked Wholefoods; Alison Banton of Brooke   and Shoals; Stephanie Shine of Samco; Marion Murphy Cooney of Marion Murphy   Cooney Designs; Aileen McGrath of One Little Studio; Ciana Campbell (MC) and   Theresa Mulvihill (networking).

 

Waterford

A LEO Waterford evening event with dinner in Faithlegg   House Hotel.

Irene Queally of Pip and Pear; Terry Prone of the   Communications Clinic; Linda Coyle, Grainne Walsh of Metalman Brewing; Sandra   Whelan of Immersive VR Education; Deirdre Meaney of Wild Oats Soap; Yvonne   Crotty of Willow and Wild; Beth-Ann Smith of The Lismore Food Company and   Karen Tompkins.

Wicklow

A LEO Wicklow event with Afternoon Tea at Kilruddery   House and Gardens in Bray.

Fionnuala Ardee of Kilruddery Estate Enterprises Ltd.