“Making It Happen”: A Celebration of Success at National Women’s Enterprise Day 2024 

A special event hosted by Local Enterprise Offices Carlow and Kilkenny to celebrate women in business on National Women’s Enterprise Day 2024 was a huge success by attendees, connecting over 130 female entrepreneurs at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow. The event featured inspiring discussions, networking opportunities, and insights from successful female leaders, highlighting the power of women supporting women in business. 

The event’s keynote address was delivered by Sinead O’Brien, founder of Sinead’s Curvy Style, who captivated the audience with her entrepreneurial journey of building the shapewear brand VACIOUS. She spoke about the importance of resilience, self-belief, and building a brand that empowers others.  

A feature of this year’s event was the ‘Women Supporting Women Panel’ facilitated by Shonagh Lyons, host of the Beat 102-103 Breakfast Show. The panel featured a remarkable line-up of female leaders including Irene Frisby, Managing Director of FQS and National Womens Enterprise Day Ambassador for Carlow/Kilkenny; Linda Codoul, President of Network Ireland; Rosemary Ward, Deputy CEO of Propelor BIC; Kate Gaynor, Managing Director of Advanced Coatings and Sinead O’Brien, Founder of Sinead’s Curvy Style. The panel shared valuable insights on leadership, collaboration, and mentorship. They shared the importance of women supporting women and emphasised the role of mentorship in overcoming challenges and driving business success.  

Cllr. Fergal Browne, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, praised the initiative saying "National Women's Enterprise Day is a key event that showcases the incredible contributions women make to our economy and local communities throughout the country. The success stories shared today highlight the resilience, creativity, and determination of female entrepreneurs across Carlow and Kilkenny.” Cllr. Browne continued to say, “It is vital that we continue to support initiatives like National Women’s Enterprise Day, which not only inspire but actively provide the tools and resources women need to excel in business”.  

Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor with Local Enterprise Office Carlow stated, “National Women's Enterprise Day 2024 is a testament to the incredible potential of female entrepreneurs, and we are proud to support their journeys through a range of services and resources. At the Local Enterprise Office, we are committed to providing ongoing support, whether through mentoring, training programmes, networking events or financial assistance, so that women can not only launch their businesses but also scale them successfully." 

Aisling Carey, Business Advisor in Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny highlighted the importance of such initiatives, "National Women’s Enterprise Day is not just about inspiration, it is about creating meaningful connections that will help women grow their businesses. By bringing together leaders who have achieved success and others who are on their entrepreneurial journey, we create a community where everyone can thrive”.  

National Women’s Enterprise Day 2024 highlighted the important role that Local Enterprise Offices play in supporting female entrepreneurs. By offering valuable services such as mentoring, training programmes, financial assistance, and networking opportunities, the Local Enterprise Offices provide women with the tools they need to overcome challenges and grow their businesses. Ongoing investment in these resources not only strengthen women-led businesses but also create a positive economic impact in our communities. 

For more information, contact Melissa Doyle, Carlow Local Enterprise Office: mdoyle@carlowcoco.ie  

or Aisling Carey, Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office aisling.carey@leo.kilkennycoco.ie