Inspiration and connection: Celebrating National Women’s Enterprise Day in Donegal

National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) returns on Thursday, 16th October, with Local Enterprise Office Donegal set to host an evening event at the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny.

As Ireland’s largest celebration of female entrepreneurship, NWED brings together women in business for a mix of inspiration, practical insight, and connection. While the spotlight shines on this national event, it reflects a much wider body of work carried out by LEO Donegal throughout the year to cultivate and support female-led enterprise in the county.

LEO Donegal continues to prioritise the development of female entrepreneurship through targeted programmes, strategic funding, and tailored supports. These efforts are not only about encouraging women to take the first step in business, but also ensuring the right structures are in place to help them scale.

One such initiative is the Ambition Accelerator Programme, designed specifically for women with high-growth potential ventures. The current cohort, launched earlier this month, includes 17 participants from across Donegal and beyond. The programme focuses on helping women develop scalable businesses, access investment, and create employment.

Since its launch, Ambition has supported 43 business ideas, created 57 new jobs (both full-time and part-time), and helped 69% of participants continue to work full-time in their businesses. Additionally, 78% have gone on to access next-stage supports, with a combined support value of over €801,000. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of focused, high-quality supports and the value of consistent investment in female-led enterprise.

The National Women’s Enterprise Day event offers an evening of insight, connection, and celebration. The event begins at 5.30pm and features a line-up of accomplished speakers and contributors from a range of sectors.

Host for the evening is Orla Hasson, a transformational coach with over 25 years’ experience in leadership, education, and social impact.

Keynote speaker Tessa Breslin, an internationally recognised leadership advisor to Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies, will share perspectives on strategy, resilience, and growth. She will be joined by NWED Donegal Ambassador Olivia Finney, co-founder of New Kid Coffee in Letterkenny, as well as panel speakers Sally Murphy, a TEDx speaker and communications consultant, and Caroline McLaughlin, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley.

READ NEXT: Council paves the way for major development of social homes in Letterkenny

The event also includes a restorative breathwork session led by Jacqueline Toner of Healing Flow Wellness, and guided networking facilitated by Mirenda Rosenberg.

Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal, said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day highlights the value women bring to business across Ireland. But more than just an annual event, it reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurship in Donegal. Through initiatives like the Ambition programme and a strong focus on access, visibility and connection, we’re working to build a stronger pipeline of female-led businesses, supporting women not just to start, but to scale and succeed.”

The NWED event is open to aspiring entrepreneurs, established business owners, and anyone interested in learning more about the supports and opportunities available to women in business. 

To register, visit: https://www.localenterprise.ie/Donegal/Training-Events/Online-Bookings/NWED-2025.html