National Women’s Enterprise Day Regional Event Returns to the South West

At the launch of the Southwest’s National Women’s Enterprise Day Regional Event are Jamie Cuthbert, Event Coordinator and Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West; Alison Walsh, Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office South Cork; Lisa Finn, Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West; Ita Madden, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Local Enterprise Office Cork City; Sharleen Foody, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West; Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan; Amy Jane Keating, Event Host and MC; Fiona Leahy, Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office Kerry and Caroline Murphy, West Cork Eggs, Event Ambassador and Leading Light representing Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West. Photgraph: Joleen Cronin

Kerry County Council’s Local Enterprise Office is delighted to welcome the return of the Southwest’s National Women’s Enterprise Day Regional Event for 2023. 

Taking place on Thursday October 19th, at the Dunmore House Hotel in Clonakilty, National Women’s Enterprise Day is Ireland’s largest female enterprise event.

Covering the Kerry and Cork region, this full day programme is designed and led by women to promote and encourage female entrepreneurship across Ireland.

Female Entrepreneurship

Now in its 17th year, National Women’s Enterprise Day shines the spotlight on female entrepreneurship, opens the prospect of entrepreneurship to women who may not have considered it before and highlights what supports are available.

Regional events also provide valuable networking opportunities to connect with industry experts together with acknowledging the achievements of women in enterprise.

Wholehearted Encouragement  

Fiona Leahy, Kerry Local Enterprise Office said that National Women’s Enterprise Day continues to highlight female entrepreneurs, encouraging them to build their community, share their successes and inspire others to follow their paths.

“I wholeheartedly encourage women in business from Kerry to register to attend, and to embrace the theme of “Empowering Business Together” through networking, knowledge sharing and following the journeys of real-life entrepreneurs with four Leading Light Client companies speaking on the day,” said Ms. Leahy.

Future-Proof Business 

The Southwest National Women’s Enterprise Day Regional Event will feature a welcome address by Sharon Corcoran, Cork County Council’s Director of Services, Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism. Amy Jane Keating, Host and Creator of the Go Do You podcast will be the days host and facilitator which will include guest speaker Pat Kane.

Award-winning sustainability strategist, founder of Reuzi.ie and co-founder of Good Better Best, Pat will speak to attendees on building a future-proof business, touching on her own entrepreneurial journey whilst highlighting small ways businesses can improve their sustainable practices.

Award Winning Vermouth

The day will also include a panel discussion with Cork and Kerry leading lights, followed by keynote speaker Laura Dowling, Fabulous Pharmacist and founder and CEO of fabÜ Wellness.

Leading lights representing Kerry Local Enterprise Office are Anna and Orla Snook O’Carroll, the wife and wife team behind Ireland’s first vermouth, Valentia Island Vermouth. They handcraft this award winning vermouth here in Co.Kerry using twenty botanicals, handmade caramel and a Verdejo grape from the Rueda Valley, near Madrid. Valentia Island Vermouth is available in Michelin starred restaurants, high end cocktails bars and restaurants, good independent off-licenses throughout the country.

SuperValu Food Academy

Having completed the SuperValu Food Academy, Valentia Island Vermouth is also available in SuperValu’s in the Munster region. Anna and Orla have high hopes for the future with plans underway to export to the US and Canadian markets. They have most recently received a Connect Business Women in Kerry award for social media and 1st place in Taste of Dublin’s best dressed stall. 

This initiative is led by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, and funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities.

To book your place for the Kerry & Cork event please visit www.localenterprise.ie

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