Women in business from Carlow are expected to join hundreds of other female entrepreneurs from around the country on November 17th, to hear inspirational stories and share advice about their businesses to mark National Women’s Enterprise Day.

Co-organised by the Carlow County Enterprise Board, a major entrepreneurship conference is being held in Portlaoise that day, aimed at women already in business or those who are thinking of setting up their own business in the near future.

In 2010, the network of County and City Enterprise Boards supported over 12,000 women in business around the country, but the local boards are keen to encourage even more women to set up their own businesses.

UK entrepreneur, author and rower, Debra Searle MBE is one of two keynote speakers at the National Women’s Enterprise Day conference at the Heritage Hotel, along with the founder of the Itsa Bagel chain, Domini Kemp. The stories of eight other female entrepreneurs, who are all based in different parts of the country, will also be showcased at the conference.

“Although we supported over 12,000 women in business around the country last year, through the network of County and City Enterprise Boards, men are still more likely to be in business for themselves than women,” said Michael Kelly, C.E.O. of Carlow County Enterprise Board. 

“National Women’s Enterprise Day is one of a number of important initiatives from the Enterprise Boards, to encourage and support more women in the setting up of their own businesses over the coming years,” he added.

.Debra Searle hit the headlines a number of years ago after successfully rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic alone, after her husband had fallen ill and had to be rescued. A highly accomplished sportswoman, she helped to set a new World Record for Dragon Boating across the English Channel, with a very famous team-mate, Kate Middleton.  Chef and food writer, Domini Kemp, runs the hugely popular Itsa Bagel chain with her sister. Their outdoor catering company, Feast Catering, is also flourishing alongside two new restaurants.

Co-funded by the European Social Fund with support from the Department of Justice and Equality through the Equality for Women Measure, the aim of National Women’s Enterprise Day is to give national recognition to the role of female entrepreneurship.

Tv3 broadcaster and journalist Collette Fitzpatrick is the conference facilitator and the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D., will be speaking at a networking session the evening before, on November 16th.

The four case study entrepreneurs this year are Lisa Myers from the Wig Clinic in Cork, Birgitta Curtin from the Burren Smokehouse in Clare, Elena Brennan from Elena Brenna Jewellery in Cavan and Grainne Barry from Anotherfriend.com in Limerick City.

Aisling Hurley from Teamwoodcraft in Laois, Liz Waters from Malone’s Cleaning in Dublin, Mary Fitzgerald from Woodlands House Hotel in County Limerick and Deirdre Murtagh of Causey Farm in Meath are all on the ‘more established businesses’ panel at this year’s conference.

Subsidised tickets for the conference can be purchased on-line through www.nwed.ie and cost €100 each, which includes lunch, dinner and all conference materials.

The conference also includes an exhibition of enterprise support agencies, one-to-one mentoring clinics and networking sessions.