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Women entrepreneurs gather in Portlaoise

Wednesday, October 17 10:20:06

Hundreds of Ireland's women entrepreneurs will come together tomorrow in Portlaoise for 'National Women's Enterprise Day'.

Successful businesswomen will share their experiences and advice with other women who are running companies and setting up their own businesses during a two day national conference.

The two day event which concludes tomorrow evening is themed "Believe it and Achieve It" and involves women from all walks of life and all counties and is one of the biggest events in Ireland to celebrate European SME week.

'National Women's Enterprise Day' is organised by the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards which support around 12 thousand women in business in this country This event is co-financed by the European Social Fund with support from the Department of Justice and Equality, through the Equality for Women initiative.

Dr. Maureen Gaffney, the author of 'Flourish' will talk to the female entrepreneurs about managing change and overcoming tough challenges and set-backs. The Clinical Psychologist, Author and Broadcaster is speaking as well as Mary McKenna from Tour America, which now employs over fifty people and recently expanded into the UK. McKenna was also responsible for setting up Cruise Holidays in 2001.

Women who successfully run their own companies will be inspiring others involved in small businesses, including Alison Banton from Brooke and Shoals Fragrances in Wicklow, Caroline McEnery, HR and Business Solutions from Kerry, Fleur Creed from Genesis Business College in Wexford and Sarah Nic Lochlainn of Louth-based Aruna Sauces.

A workshop focusing on Technology and Social Media is one of the main sessions on Wednesday, while on Thursday 18th October, a panel of four highly accomplished women from the worlds of media and marketing will explain what it takes to become FAB! Nicola Byrne from 11890, Linda O' Shea Farren, CEO of the Irish American Peace Foundation, Orlaigh Carmody from Mediatraining.ie and Barrister and former RTE broadcaster, Theresa Lowe.

Fiona Leahy from the organising committee with the County and City Enterprise Boards said: "'National Women's Enterprise Day' aims to encourage even more women to set up their own businesses and to increase national recognition of the essential role played by Ireland's female entrepreneurs".