Network Ireland Kilkenny scoop four regional Businesswoman of the Year awards
By SINÉAD CONNOLLY
NETWORK Ireland Kilkenny is celebrating after four of its members emerged as winners in the recent Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Regional Awards.
The four will now go forward for National Awards in September at the Celtic Ross Hotel.
Ruth Callanan, current President of Network Ireland Kilkenny, had urged members of the Kilkenny branch to put their names forward for the Regional Awards and she was thrilled when four of them were successful.
The Network Ireland Regional Award Winners are as follows:
*Dominika Stoppa, Dominika Stoppa Coaching, Network Ireland Kilkenny Branch, Emerging New Business Category;
*Angela Hayes, Thomas Hayes Trust, Network Ireland Kilkenny Branch, Social Enterprise Category Group 1;
*Michelle Treacy, Treacy Millinery, Network Ireland Kilkenny Branch, Arts Category Group 2;
*Anne Marie Hallinan, Kilkenny Civic Trust, Network Ireland Kilkenny Branch, Shining Star Category.
Aside from the four winners, Anne Healy of Biddy’s Good Luck Horse Shoes and Valerie O’Sullivan from the Smithwick Experience were ‘Highly Commended’.
Network Ireland, which was founded in 1983, is a non-profit volunteer organisation which supports the personal and professional development of women. There are currently 15 branches nationwide that organise regular events where like-minded people can come together to exchange ideas, offer support and seek advice if needed.
The existing branch of Network Ireland Kilkenny was set up in February 2017, when a group of dynamic women decided they wanted to reinstate it. The five women got together to decide how to set up their branch and haven’t looked back since.
“We said let’s do our first event in March, the following month, and we have been running since then,” Ruth, a solicitor at Poe, Kiely, Hogan, Lanigan Solicitors on Patrick Street, told KilkennyNow.ie.
Network Ireland Kilkenny organises 12 events a year, one per month. They cover a broad spectrum of subjects including healthy eating, HR, employment law, branding, mindfulness etc. According to Ruth, the meetings are positive and collaborative and all the members bring something to the table.
“We have 11 on the committee. When we sit down at the table, the enthusiasm and ideas are great,” Ruth explains. The branch offers a progressive, supportive environment where women can share ideas, network and work with like-minded women.
Network Ireland Kilkenny are hosting an event this evening called Branding by Threesixty at Butler House at 6:30pm. Non-members are welcome to attend and pay the €20 entry fee. If you are interested in branding or you are thinking of joining and would like to meet your local branch, this is the perfect opportunity. Tickets are available on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/291270691825364/
On June 17, Network Ireland Kilkenny will host an event at the Hoban Hotel, called ‘All about Sales’. The President of Network Ireland Mayo, Anne Conlon, who has her own company, will present a sales workshop at the event
On July 23 the Kilkenny branch will host Miriam Donohoe, the former Irish Times journalist and Senior Communications Manager for Goal. According to Ruth, Miriam discuss her own career journey and offer advice to other ladies starting out on their career path or choosing a different career. “It’s really inspiring to see people get so high in their field and we’d like to know their story,” Ruth explains.
Events are free to members, and for non-members there is a €20 entry fee. Men are welcome to all their events, but cannot become members. The subscription fee for the year is €150 and this offers free access every event in Kilkenny and nationwide. So if you are travelling for work, you can pop into a Network Ireland event in another county free of charge.
If you are interested in learning more about Network Ireland Kilkenny, log on to: https://networkireland.ie/ or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NetworkIrelandKilkenny/
PHOTO CAPTION: From the awards breakfast at Zuni: John Hurley (Chamber of Commerce), Angela Hayes, Roisin McQuillan (Chamber of Commerce), Valerie O’Sullivan, Ruth Callanan, Michelle Treacy, Dominika Stoppa, Anne Healy and Annemarie Hallinan
