Mid West Region National Women’s Enterprise Day takes place at Dromoland Castle

Mid West Region, National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) took place at Dromoland Castle on Thursday, October 17. Picture: Arthur Ellis

A new record attendance for National Women’s Enterprise Day was set at events that took place across the country on Thursday, October 17

A new record attendance for National Women’s Enterprise Day was set at events that took place across the country on Thursday, October 17.  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 it’s inception in 2006. The Mid West Region, National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) took place at Dromoland Castle and was attended by business women from all over the Midwest.

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.

Breege Cosgrave, Co-Chair of National Women’s Enterprise Day 2024, said; “It is fantastic to see a record turnout for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day.  Since Covid we have seen how important these events can be for helping female entrepreneurs and women in business to grow their networks and see there is support out there within their community to help get them started and to grow their businesses.

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“We have 14 fantastic events across the country covering everything from getting started and funding through to digitalization and sustainability.  There’s something for everyone and some amazing businesses and female entrepreneurs telling their stories of how they got started and overcame challenges.  National Women’s Enterprise Day is vital for 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.”    

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.    

Some of those who took part this year included Aimee Connolly, founder and CEO of Sculpted by Aimee, Anne Heraty founder of CPL Resources, Oonagh O’Hagan of Meaghers Pharmacy, broadcaster and entrepreneur, Norah Casey, Martina Fitzgerald of Scale Ireland, entrepreneur Chupi Sweetman and broadcaster and podcaster Sile Seoige.  They were joined at the events across the country by a host of female-led small businesses and start-ups are telling their story of how they began and made it happen with their ideas.

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, 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.

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 eight years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 75,000 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.