No Ordinary Life: A Celebration of the Business Women of Leitrim & Sligo

• National Women's Enterprise Day aims to inspire, motivate and empower women across the country in running their own businesses. The event strives to empower even more women to set up their own businesses and to increase national recognition of the essential role played by Ireland’s female entrepreneurs. This event will consist of a variety of developmental support actions, including inspiring speakers, shared experience, group discussion and networking opportunities.

• Where? Juniper Barn, New Park, Ballymote, Co Sligo, F56 X985
• When? Thursday 17th of October 2024 | 6:00p.m. – 9:00p.m.

Ambassador and Keynote Speaker - Norah Casey

Former Dragon, successful businesswoman, magazine publisher, television personality and broadcaster.

• Broadcaster, entrepreneur and human rights campaigner Norah Casey was formerly a Dragon in the popular television series Dragons’ Den and is a well-known radio and television personality. The 2^nd Edition of her book Spark! was recently published by Penguin and her TEDx talks include The Cure for Grief and The Courageto leave (her own testimony of domestic violence). Her digital learning platform Planet Woman seeks to empower women, and much of her pro-bono work is devoted to mentoring female founders globally. She serves on the European Board for Vital Voices, established in 1997 by Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She is a founder of the London-based Women's Irish Network and is a member of The International Women's Forum. Norah is currently serving on the Irish government Forum on a Family Friendly and Inclusive Parliament.
• A journalist and former nurse, her awards include: Woman of the Decade Award from the Women’s Economic Forum in Delhi; Ireland’s Philanthropist of the Year award; five times Publisher of the Year; and Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year. Her work to highlight domestic violence was recognised with a Safe Ireland SÍLA Leadership Award and she received the 2019 Lord Mayor Of Dublin Award. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and received the Honorary Graduate Award for 2018 from BFEI.

Joint Facilitators

• Fran Best (Facilitator, Leadership Coach & Business Mentor)
• Maeve McCormack - (Communications Specialist, Facilitator, Trainer)

Local Business Panelists

Jo O’Brien (Leitrim)

• Jo O’Brien is a dedicated family woman who is committed to the local community. After studying Hotel Management, Jo successfully managed a number of restaurants in the UK, before establishing Vittos restaurant in Carrick on Shannon, which she successfully ran for over 18 years. After selling Vittos restaurant, Jo took some time to reflect before the recent establishment of her new business Circle Edge Athleisure Wear. 

Isabel Claffey (Sligo)

• Isabel is a Dublin born, Sligo based, Theatre Practitioner who started her career in Hotel and Catering. Not content with the unsociable hours and drama of hospitality, she returned to her first love of Theatre and has never looked back! Past productions include work at the Abbey, the Civic and the Helix Theatres, more recently with Cairde Festival and Broken Talkers Theatre Company.  She enjoys teaching Drama, from Toddlers to octogenarians and everyone in between as well as devising and directing for community groups taking to the stage for the first time. Isabel loves to produce her own work and has been facilitated in doing so through the Sligo County Council Arts Office and the Hawk’s Well Theatre.