FOUR southside woman have been honoured in this year’s Woman’s Way & Beko Mum of the Year 2018 Awards.
A total of five mums from Dublin picked up awards at the special ceremony in The Gibson Hotel.
Stefani Howlett, from Shankill, was named Generational Mum. Mother of six children, ranging from 27 to four, and grandmother to two boys, until very recently there were 10 people living in the Howlett household. Stefani impressed the judges with her sense of family spirit and support of all generations of her family despite suffering serious illness.
Trina Keane, from Foxrock, was named Social Media Champion. “I realised that there’s a whole world of women my age out there who have no idea how to begin again I suppose or even that they could,” said Trina. So she set up UpStarts, an online community for women. “Social media, when used properly, is an incredible tool,” Trina said. “There’s a whole world of bright ideas and wonderful things that you could be a part of.”
Gina Cassidy, from Dun Laoghaire, was named Female Founder. Gina set up a successful home scent company Purcell & Woodcock which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The brand is now stocked in around 100 stores in the UK and 200 in Ireland and it’s just launched into House of Fraser, its first department store stockist. “It’s lovely to walk in and see it amongst all the aspirational brands,” said Gina.
Laura Steerman, from Dublin 16, was named Social Entrepreneur. Less than eight months ago, Laura left her job as a regulatory solicitor to set up QuaintBaby Ultrasound Art, a service that offers families paintings based on a photo of a baby’s ultrasound scan. Laura gives back through a collaboration with Irish charity Féileacáin, that supports parents bereaved before or shortly after birth.
A percentage of every painting sold through their website stays with Féileacáin as a donation.
They were joined by Muireann Quinn, from Stoneybatter, who was named Gamechanger. “I’ve only ever wanted to be a mammy,” Muireann explained. “I wasn’t eligible but I thought that’s not right so I thought to talk to someone.”
Back in the 90s the mum of two challenged the eligibility of single people to adopt and succeeded, paving the way for others to follow.
The Mum of the Year Awards, now in its 15th year, is the largest national awards celebrating mothers across Ireland. As well as the overall Mum of the Year, this year Woman’s Way and Beko also recognised the achievements of mothers within a number of new categories.
