Galway businesswoman Joanne Sweeney has been named Established Businesswoman of the Year at the 2026 Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards.
Ms Sweeney, founder of the Digital Training Institute and a member of Network Ireland Galway Branch, received the national award at a gala ceremony at The Galmont Hotel in Galway on Friday last.
She was among eight women from across Ireland recognised at Network Ireland’s flagship annual awards, which celebrate achievement across business, professional and employment categories.
Almost 600 applications were received for this year’s awards from Network Ireland’s 17 branches, with more than 100 finalists progressing to the national awards in Galway.
Ms Sweeney’s success marks a major national recognition for her work with the Digital Training Institute, which specialises in digital skills, training and education.
She took the Established Businesswoman of the Year title alongside winners from across the country in categories ranging from STEM and creative professions to entrepreneurship and career achievement.
The other national winners were Niamh Shaw of Dream Big Space & Science Communications, Louth, who was named STEM Professional of the Year; Waterford’s Kim Whyte of Pawpear, who won Creative Professional of the Year; and Cork’s Ciara Crossan of WeddingDates, who was named Networker of the Year.
Shannon Kearney of Squared Map, Carlow, won Emerging New Businesswoman of the Year, while Natasha Hughes of Natasha Hughes EQ Coaching & Consultancy, Wexford, was named Solo Businesswoman of the Year.
Laura Howard of Trinny London, Cork, received the Advanced Career Employee of the Year award, while Leah Maguire of Eolas Money, Tipperary, won Early Career Employee of the Year.
The awards ceremony followed Network Ireland’s National Conference, which brought almost 500 women from across the country to Galway for a day focused on business, entrepreneurship, innovation and professional development.
The conference at Dexcom Stadium was officially opened by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD. The programme included an address from Maria Walsh MEP, a fireside chat with Laura Dowling, known as The Fabulous Pharmacist, and discussions on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the future of business, entrepreneurship and women’s health.
Denise O’Brien delivered the keynote address, accompanied by a special performance from soprano Eve Stafford.
Network Ireland National President Karen Ronan congratulated Sweeney and the other national winners, describing the standard among this year’s finalists as exceptionally high.
“Our finalists this year reflect the extraordinary breadth of female talent in Ireland today,” she said. “I want to congratulate each of our eight national winners on this very well-deserved recognition.”
Ms Ronan also highlighted the significance of bringing hundreds of Network Ireland members to Galway, saying the organisation’s theme for this year, ‘Building Bridges’, was reflected in the connections and conversations throughout the conference and awards.
The evening also saw RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan receive the Tricia Murphy Memorial Award, which recognises outstanding contribution and achievement.
O’Callaghan has been a prominent figure in Irish broadcasting and current affairs for more than four decades and has presented RTÉ’s Prime Time since 1996.
The awards and conference were supported by AIB, Network Ireland’s longstanding official partner.
Geraldine Casey, Managing Director of Retail Banking at AIB, said the events provided an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of women in business and to build relationships among businesswomen from across Ireland.
For Galway, the awards provided a further moment of recognition for the city’s business community, with Sweeney’s national success placing the Digital Training Institute and Network Ireland Galway Branch in the spotlight.
