Pictured at the event to celebrate International Women's Day were, from left, Catriona Duffy, business advisor in the LEO Westmeath, Christine Charlton, head of enterprise, Westmeath County Council, Tracey Tallon, senior enterprise development officer LEO Westmeath, Deborah Stenson, LEO Westmeath,Irene Lynch, LEO Westmeath, keynote speaker Una Leonard, 2210 Patisserie, and Mary Murray, LEO Westmeath.

Leonard tells inspiring story at women in business event

Mullingar businesswoman and author Una Leonard of 2210 Patisserie was one of the keynote speakers at an event in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Wednesday last to celebrate International Women's Day.

Women in business from Westmeath, Longford and Leitrim gathered in the Park Hotel for the event, which featured a businesswoman from each county telling their inspiring story to a booked-out room over 100 women.

The other keynote speakers on the day were Edel O’Hanlon of the Well Being Clinic in Longford, and Olive MacTague from Olive Branch Coaching and Consulting in Leitrim.

All three women 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 women in business event to mark International Women's Day, were: Anna Allen, Anna Allen Photography, Sarah Jane Foster, SJF Productions, Catriona Duffy, Business Advisor LEO Westmeath, Cathy Moran, Dept. of Social Protection, Allyson English, Jigsaw VAE, and Rosaleen Coates, Rosaleen’s Kitchen. Photo by Anna Allen Photography

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 socialise 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.

Email: info@leo.westmeathcoco.ie

Tel: 044 - 9338945