Women in business from Westmeath, Longford and Leitrim gathered in the Mullingar Park Hotel on March 8 last to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023.
The theme of the day was #Embrace Equity, with a businesswoman from each county telling their inspiring story to a booked-out room over 100 women.
Keynote speakers on the day included Una Leonard, owner of 2210 Patisserie and author of best-selling book ‘Sweet Therapy’ from Mullingar, Westmeath, Edel O’Hanlon of the Well Being Clinic in Longford, and Olive MacTague from Olive Branch Coaching & Consulting in Co. Leitrim.
All three businesses told their story and how they came about setting up their own business – they all spoke freely about overcoming personal challenges and growing successful businesses. Although operating in very different spheres of industry, common to all three was that they ‘followed their passion’. The event was booked out weeks in advance with over 100 women in the room listening and finding inspiration from the guest speakers.
The event also included a networking session hosted by the MC Pat Murphy from Longford, for the women in the room to socialize and swap stories of their own businesses, and a presentation from Cathy Moran on the supports available to entrepreneurs from the Department of Social Protection. Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise in the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, informed attendees of the supports available from the Local Enterprise Office (LEO ) for small businesses.
For further information on the Women in Business Network and future Women-In-Business events, please contact Catriona Duffy at the Local Enterprise Office, Westmeath.
