Limerick’s Leading Women in Business Honoured at Awards Ceremony

2025 Network Ireland Limerick Awards – pictured above is Eve Stafford with Majoy, Joan Walshe National Vice President Designate and Fiona Doyle. Picture: Paul Mullins

2025 Network Ireland Limerick Awards celebrated the best of Limerick women in business

Limerick’s thriving business community gathered in celebration last Friday for the 2025 Network Ireland Limerick Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at the Clayton Hotel Limerick. The event, attended by nearly 100 guests, was hosted by Network Ireland Limerick President and soprano, Eve Stafford.

Members of Network Limerick, a non-profit, voluntary organisation that is one of 17 branches made up of more than 1,000 members across Ireland, elected Eve Stafford as the 2025 president.

Eve opened the evening in unforgettable style with a rendition of the iconic Limerick anthem ‘Dreams’ by The Cranberries, joined on stage by fellow members Shirley Keane, Lorraine Galvin, and Stacy Franklin. The powerful performance underlined her presidential theme for 2025: ‘You Are Not Alone’, celebrating collaboration and support among women in business.

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Special guest on the night was Mayor John Moran, who commended the finalists and highlighted the importance of supporting local enterprise and leadership.

Network Ireland national representatives Joan Walsh from the Cork branch and National Vice President Designate. Emma Wilson (National Awards Coordinator and 2022 Limerick Branch President) were also in attendance, showing strong support for Limerick’s business community on the national stage.

With 38 exceptional finalists across eight categories, the event highlighted the talent, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit alive in Limerick today. Seven branch winners will now represent Limerick at the Network Ireland National Awards this September. Highly Commended Employee Rising Star: Eimear Dwan was highly commended in the Employee Rising Star category.

The 2025 Limerick Businesswoman of the Year Award Branch Winners are:

• Emerging Businesswoman: Stacy Franklin, Kanso
• Solo Businesswoman: Michelle Daly Hayes, The Launch Agency
• Established Businesswoman: Róisín Buckley, Piquant
• Employee Shining Star: Katie Brennan, 101 O’Connell
• Creative Professional: Celine Gill, Style at No.5
• STEM Professional: Fionnuala Ward
• Networker of the Year: Denise O’Brien, O’Brien Learning Solutions Ltd.

Thanks were extended to the esteemed judging panel for their time and expertise – Elaine Howley (AIB), Aideen Corry (LEO Limerick), and Karl Daly (Moore Financial) and award sponsors on the night included AIB, LEO, Ingenium, Johnson & Johnson and C. Thompson & Sons Funerals.

The event was a resounding success, further cementing Limerick’s position as a hub of dynamic, innovative, and inspiring women in business.

Network Limerick’s membership includes both entrepreneurs and employees, SME owners and professionals, leaders in indigenous and multinational organisations, non-profits, the arts and public sector.

At the Limerick Branch we look forward to organising coffee mornings, monthly events, wellness morning, workshops, business woman awards, a Christmas party and more for our members. We welcome any new members also to Network Ireland Limerick Branch. Most of our events will be free as part of your membership. Members can also avail of the national mentoring programme and attend events in any branch within the country.