Record numbers turn out for National Women’s Enterprise Day 2025

160 Female entrepreneurs and women in Business attended National Women’s Enterprise Day Mid-West which took place in the beautiful setting of the Cashel Palace Hotel on October 16. One of 15 Local Enterprise Office led events nationwide.
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NWED marks the 19th year of this flagship celebration of female entrepreneurship across Ireland, and it is inspiring to see the energy, innovation, and ambition that women bring to our business communities, supporting Women Entrepreneurs in the Mid-West.

Sinead Carr, Chief Executive Tipperary County Council opened the day and said that she was "proud to stand alongside all the women in the room to celebrate and acknowledge the remarkable women of the MidWest who continue to drive progress, inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, and demonstrate that with ambition, creativity, and support, anything is possible."

This year's gathering offered a unique platform to showcase our outstanding female-led businesses across the Mid-West and celebrate their success.

Mary Ryan, Senior Development Officer said,

“It is fantastic to see a record turnout for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day. It is important to recognise the importance of these events which help female entrepreneurs and women in business grow their networks and see there is support within their community to help get them get started and to grow their businesses.

“This event featuring some amazing businesses and female entrepreneurs telling their stories of how they got started and overcame challenges highlights the importance of the day showcasing the very best of our female entrepreneurs and showing those who hope to take that leap in the future that the support is there.

“I sincerely hope that the day left everybody informed, inspired, and connected, and that the ideas and collaborations sparked here will continue to propel our region to greater success in the years to come."

The day offered a rich programme of Networking, other activities, including hearing from keynote speaker the dynamic entrepreneur Oonagh O’Hagan. Panel discussions featuring Leah O’Dwyer, Founder of Zero Mission here in Tipperary, Maeve Sheridan Co-founder of Western Herd Brewing Company (Clare) and Sarah O’Sullivan, Founder of SOS Cookies (Limerick).

All sharing their journeys highlighting the strength and creativity that women bring to enterprise across industries. Networking sessions were designed to provide participants with the time to connect, collaborate, and be inspired by the stories and experiences of others.

Tipperary County Council, recognize that a thriving local economy is built on the talent, vision, and determination of our people.

"Supporting female entrepreneurship is not just about equity, it is vital to driving innovation, creating employment, and strengthening communities across our County and Region. It is our commitment to provide an environment where ambition flourishes, towns and businesses can grow, and women leading enterprises feel fully supported to achieve their potential."

The Local Enterprise Offices also run several initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the Country. These include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, Local Enterprise Village
at the Ploughing Championships and Local Enterprise Showcase. The Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.

Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.

For more information on National Women’s Enterprise Day go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED

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