Great Southern to host 20th Women’s Enterprise Day

Female entrepreneurs and budding businesswomen from across Kerry and Cork are being encouraged to register for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day, which marks its 20th anniversary with a flagship Southwest regional gathering at Killarney’s Great Southern Hotel.

Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) in Kerry and Cork, the full-day event takes place on Thursday, 15 October, as part of a nationwide series of 16 events celebrating female entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, and networking.
The Killarney event features a keynote address by Oonagh O’Hagan, pharmacist and award-winning entrepreneur. Radio Kerry presenter and RTE Today Show panellist Elaine Kinsella will act as master of ceremonies for the day.
A major highlight will be an interactive “Leading Lights” panel discussion featuring Christina Foley, founder of Kenmare-based wellness brand Inish Living; Claire Morgan, owner of McWilliam Bags in Crosshaven; Shannen O’Reilly, founder of food allergy management app TrustDish; and Virginia O’Gara, co-founder of My Goodness and the Cork Urban Soil Project.
Proceedings will open with a warm-up session led by wellbeing professional Paola Kennedy. A new “Homegrown Hero” segment will feature a fireside chat between Elaine Kinsella and Louise Quill, founder of the Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation.
Fiona Leahy of Kerry Local Enterprise Office highlighted the milestone anniversary for the region’s businesswomen, stating: “For two decades, National Women’s Enterprise Day has been about more than one day of events. It has been about creating space for women in business to connect, learn, share their experiences and access the practical supports that can help them move forward with confidence.
“Across the Local Enterprise Office network, we see every day the ambition, creativity and resilience of women entrepreneurs in every county. Our role is to help turn that ambition into sustainable businesses through mentoring, training, funding, expert advice and connections. As we celebrate 20 years of NWED, we want to recognise the businesses that have been supported along the way and encourage even more women to take the next step, whether they are starting out, scaling up or looking to reach new markets.”
Peter Burke, T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, noted the significance of the national initiative, saying: “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.”
Further information and ticket bookings for the Great Southern Hotel event are available online at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED.

Kerry County Council has agreed to conduct speed surveys and directly engage with residents in Marian’s Terrace and Dalton’s Avenue to address growing traffic safety concerns in the residential areas.

The commitment follows a motion brought forward by Councillor Maura Healy-Rae at the September meeting of the Killarney Municipal District.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by householders due to the layout of the estates, Cllr Healy-Rae asked the council to consult with local families to find a workable traffic management solution.

“With the presence of two entrances/exits, there is significant additional traffic coming through the estates; residents want to maintain both entrances/exits but are seeking additional traffic calming measures to increase safety for all,” Cllr Healy-Rae stated.

In response to the motion, local authority officials confirmed that initial data gathering will begin shortly to help formulate future safety measures for the area.

A spokesperson for Kerry County Council replied: “Kerry County Council will engage with the residents of Marian’s Terrace and Dalton’s Avenue. To assist and inform this process, Kerry County Council will also carry out a number of speed surveys at this location in the interim.”