Making It Happen: National Women’s Enterprise Day launches in Fingal 

National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) will take place on Thursday, 17th October, and the venue for the biggest event celebrating NWED this year is the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown. 

The annual Dublin NWED event, organised by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal on behalf of the LEOs in the Dublin region, is a highlight in the business calendar for enterprising women across the region and offers a unique opportunity to celebrate female entrepreneurship. 

The theme of this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day is ‘Making It Happen’ and the programme includes a variety of guest speakers, female entrepreneurs, lively panel discussion, small-business case studies, an exhibition of enterprise support agencies as well as plenty of opportunities to network with other female entrepreneurs and business owners.  

Celebrated TV broadcaster Mary Kennedy was announced as this year’s NWED Master of Ceremonies, while a number of inspiring speakers from several business sectors were also unveiled, including Lorraine Heskin (CEO of Gourmet Food Parlour), Oonagh O’Hagan (MD of Meaghers Pharmacy), Fiona Buckley (CEO of She Speaks Agency), and Breda McCague (CEO of Aiming4Awesome). 

The panel discussion will feature ambassadors from across Dublin who will speak about their experience of business and the knowledge and support they have gained during their entrepreneurial journeys. Additionally, the panel will include Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager and Head of Regions and Local Enterprise at Enterprise Ireland, who will share invaluable knowledge on scaling and internationalisation. 

The ambassadors announced for their respective regions are Michelle O’Keefe, Co-founder of Platform 55 (LEO Fingal); Aisling Tuck, founder of Naked Bakes (South Dublin LEO); Alicia Garrigan, Founder of GirlGottaChange (LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) and Niamh Tallon, Founder of Hersport.ie (LEO Dublin City).  

The event will also provide access to valuable information and resources from representatives of key organisations such as theLocal Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue, Intreo, Department of Social Protection, InterTradeIreland, AwakenHub, TU Dublin, TrailblazHER, and Microfinance Ireland.

Registration is at 08.45 am with the opportunity to network over breakfast. The event kicks off at 09.30 am and will conclude with a networking lunch, which finishes at 2 pm. 

Speaking at the launch of the NWED Dublin event, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “Fingal is a thriving hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, and I’m delighted to celebrate the incredible women who are driving our region forward. National Women’s Enterprise Day is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the vibrant business community we have here, and to inspire even more women to pursue their entrepreneurial endeavours.” 

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, added: “We are delighted to welcome the National Women’s Enterprise Day event to Fingal. This platform provides an invaluable opportunity for businesswomen and aspiring female entrepreneurs to connect, learn from industry experts, and gain insights that will help them grow their businesses. Fingal is committed to supporting female entrepreneurship, and we believe this event will be a catalyst for innovation and success.” 

Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise in Fingal, further emphasised the importance of providing networking opportunities for businesswomen, saying, “National Women’s Enterprise Day in Fingal is a dynamic platform where businesswomen and entrepreneurs can connect, learn, and grow. We’ve created an event that’s packed with inspiring speakers, valuable information and networking opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this event is a must-attend for any female entrepreneur.” 

Sharon Rossignuolo, Manager of the Fingal Enterprising Women Network, highlighted the long-term benefits of participating: “Taking the day out of your business to focus on personal and professional growth is not just a break—it’s an investment. National Women’s Enterprise Day provides an invaluable opportunity for businesswomen to gain fresh perspectives, spark new ideas, and build the motivation needed to drive their enterprises forward.” 

NWED promises a value-packed and memorable morning, offering businesswomen a unique opportunity to celebrate female entrepreneurship in Dublin, connect with like-minded women, and leave with the inspiration and tools to drive business success. 

The event is subsidised by the LEOs in the Dublin Region and a limited number of fully inclusive early bird tickets are available at only €25. Places are limited, so early booking is strongly advised. For further information and online bookings visit www.localenterprise.ie/fingal.