This year marks an exciting milestone for National Women's Enterprise Day in Meath, as the event will be hosted independently for the first time and takes place in the stunning surroundings of Dunboyne Castle Hotel.
Attendees can look forward to an inspiring programme featuring award-winning broadcaster Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh as MC, acclaimed broadcaster and wellness advocate Clare McKenna as keynote speaker, alongside expert panellists Laura McDermott, an award-winning leader in sustainability and innovation, and Amy Bracken, genealogist, historian and founder of Global Irish Genealogy.
Bringing together an exceptional lineup of influential voices, innovators and thought leaders, the event will explore themes of leadership, wellbeing, sustainability, resilience and personal growth. From inspiring stories and practical insights to meaningful networking opportunities, the day promises to celebrate the achievements of women in business while empowering attendees to embrace new opportunities, build valuable connections and unlock their full potential.
Speaking about the event, Meath Head of Enterprise Michelle Goodwin said: “For two decades, National Women's Enterprise Day has been about more than a single day of events. It has created opportunities for women in business to connect, learn, share experiences and access practical supports that help them start, grow and scale successful enterprises.
“In Meath, we are fortunate to have a vibrant and highly engaged network of women entrepreneurs in our Women in Business and Tech Network (and Network Ireland Meath) whose ambition, collaboration and willingness to support one another continues to strengthen our local business community. The growth and success of this network has given us the confidence to host Meath's first standalone National Women's Enterprise Day event this year, providing an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the incredible talent, innovation and leadership that exists across the county.
“As we celebrate 20 years of NWED, we want to recognise the businesses that have been supported along the way and encourage even more women to take the next step, whether they are starting out, scaling up or looking to reach new markets.”
The national launch by Minister Peter Burke featured a selection of LEO supported female led businesses including Denise Buckley of National Enterprise Award winners Sugar Plum Sweetery, Sandra Thompson of AgTech company I/O Agri, Christina Foley of wellness brand Inish Living, Mags Morgan of bridal brand Mizz Rio, Claire Morgan of McWilliam’s Bags and Áine Devlin of education software platform ExamRevision.
Speaking about NWED, Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is a hugely important date in the enterprise calendar. It is an opportunity to recognise the real progress that has been made in supporting women in business across Ireland. It is also a celebration of the ambition, innovation and resilience of female entrepreneurs who are building successful businesses in sectors from agtech and manufacturing to fashion and food.
“These are business leaders with the drive and confidence to grow beyond Ireland and compete on the global stage. As we look ahead, we must continue to ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the supports, networks and opportunities they need to start, scale and succeed.”
This year’s events will kick off at 9.30am to 2.30pm with lunch included and will cover a wide range of topics for women at every stage of business. That might be those who have an idea they want to develop or those who have been in business for a while and want to diversify or enter new markets. There will be experts in all areas involved from funding and networking to marketing and upskilling.
The Local Enterprise Offices also run a number of initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country. These include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, the Local Enterprise Village and the National Ploughing Championships and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment through Enterprise Ireland.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception eleven years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.
For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day and to book your tickets to the event go to https://www.localenterprise.ie/meath/.
