Kildare Businesswomen shine through at National Awards!

PICTURED ABOVE: Left to Right - Karen Leavy, Career Vision Recruiters, Highly Commended in Employee Rising Star category. 

Melissa Hayward, Hair Extension Training Ireland, Solo Businesswoman of the Year. 

Anita Meenehan,  Network Ireland Kildare Branch President.

AnneMarie Whelan, Regsol Ireland, Judges Special Recognition Award. 

Sharon Farrell, FACE Credit Consultancy, Highly Commended in Established Businesswoman category.

Network Ireland's much anticipated National Conference & Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2024 took place at the beautiful 5-star Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, on Friday, September 27th, with welcome events taking place the evening before.

As one of Network Ireland's flagship events, conference attendees enjoyed breakfast, networking opportunities, lunch, interactive sessions on topics relevant to today's businesswoman and their choice of two of eight fantastic, focused masterclasses.

Attendees of the Businesswoman of the Year Awards celebration evening enjoyed all the fun and excitement that went along with the event as the National Winners were announced.

Anita Meenehan Kildare Branch President said “Congratulations to all our wonderful finalists on the night who represented their businesses and their branch with pride. Kildare had a strong representation at this year’s awards resulting in 5 national awards for Kildare with two National Business Award winners! An incredible achievement for our members and reiterating that Network Kildare has a strong voice within the business community locally and

Nationally”. 

With Network Ireland Kildare Branch securing two National Businesswoman awards, Melissa

Hayward of Hair Extension Training Ireland winning Solo Businesswoman of the Year Award

and Julie Nicholson of Bidvest Noonan winning Employee Shining Star Award. 

Also, securing Highly Commended Awards, Sharon Farrell of FACE Credit Consultancy in

the category of Established Businesswoman category and Karen Leavy of Career Vision

Recruiters in the category of Employee Rising Star. Judges Special Recognition Award in

STEM category went to AnneMarie Whelan of Regsol Ireland. 

All applicants have benefited from publicity in print media and social media, both locally and

nationally. Throughout the process of applying for these awards, applicants got a chance to

review their current position, think about their future direction, improve strategic focus and

learn more about themselves and what they would like to achieve in the future.

The judging panels were looking for women who understand business, who are passionate

about their career/business, and who show a determination to succeed no matter what life

throws at them.