160 Women Entrepreneurs Gather in Adare for National Women’s Enterprise Day Mid-West

Over 160 female entrepreneurs, business owners and aspiring businesswomen from across Clare, Limerick and Tipperary gathered in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare on Thursday 15th October for the Mid-West Regional event celebrating National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) 2026, one of a series of Local Enterprise Office-led events taking place nationwide.

Now in its 20th year, National Women’s Enterprise Day continues to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women in business while encouraging and supporting the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to connect, learn and be inspired through networking, expert insights and real life business success stories.

Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said:

“National Women’s Enterprise Day is a hugely important date in the enterprise calendar. It is an opportunity to recognise the real progress that has been made in supporting women in business across Ireland.

“It is also a celebration of the ambition, innovation and resilience of female entrepreneurs who are building successful businesses in sectors from agtech and manufacturing to fashion and food.

“These are business leaders with the drive and confidence to grow beyond Ireland and compete on the global stage.

“As we look ahead, we must continue to ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the supports, networks and opportunities they need to start, scale and succeed.”

The Mid-West event featured an inspiring keynote address from sisters Ailbhe and Izzy Keane, founders of Izzy Wheels, the internationally recognised business that transformed a college project into a global brand.

Their entrepreneurial journey, determination and commitment to challenging perceptions of disability resonated strongly with the audience.

Today, Izzy Wheels products are sold in over 60 countries and the company has collaborated with major global brands including Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Barbie.

Their tagline became “If you can’t stand up, stand out!”

Attendees also heard from an accomplished panel of female entrepreneurs from across the Mid-West region, showcasing innovation and business success across a diverse range of sectors.

The panel included Roberta Gannon, Founder and Commercial Director of Pet Sláinte (Clare), Emma Doherty, Co-Founder of Spellings for Me (Tipperary), and Orla Daly, Founder of sustainable luxury knitwear brand CAYO (Limerick).

Their stories highlighted the ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit driving businesses throughout the region.

Mary Ryan, Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Tipperary Local Enterprise Office, said:

“It is fantastic to see such a strong turnout for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day.

“Events like these are incredibly important in providing women in business and aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities to build networks, share experiences and access supports that can help them start and grow successful enterprises.

“Hearing directly from women who have built thriving businesses and overcome challenges along the way is both inspiring and empowering.

“National Women’s Enterprise Day celebrates the achievements of female entrepreneurs while demonstrating that there is a strong ecosystem of supports available to help women at every stage of their business journey.

“I hope everyone who attended left feeling informed, inspired and connected, and that the conversations and collaborations started here will continue long after the event.”

National Women’s Enterprise Day forms part of the ongoing commitment of the Local Enterprise Offices to support entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth throughout Ireland.

Through mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports, Local Enterprise Offices continue to assist thousands of small businesses every year to start, grow and export successfully.

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

The Local Enterprise Offices are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and remain the first-stop shop for anyone looking to start or grow a business.

For more information on the supports available through your Local Enterprise Office, visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie.

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