Kildare businesswomen gather to mark Brigid's Day
l-r Linda Chanders, CEO Sunire, Aisling O'Toole, CEO, A Taste of Home, Geraldine Osbourne, Author and Speaker, Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, Carmel Kelly, Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Amanda Cahir O'Donnell, Managing Director, SkyRed Leadership, Magda Seymour, CEO, Pure Oskar, Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise, Kildare County Council.
A ST Brigid’s Day celebration highlighting women in business, leadership and resilience took place on Friday, 30 January at Kilkea Castle Hotel, bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders and enterprise stakeholders from across County Kildare.
Hosted by Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office (LEO), the event marked St Brigid’s Day by recognising her legacy as a symbol of strength, compassion and leadership, while showcasing the lived experiences of women in enterprise.
The event opened with a welcome address from the cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, cllr Carmel Kelly, who spoke about the enduring relevance of St Brigid’s values in today’s business environment.
“St Brigid’s story reminds us of the power of resilience, leadership and community. Today’s event celebrates the vital contribution women make to enterprise in Kildare and reinforces our commitment to supporting women-led businesses to grow, innovate and succeed," said cllr Kelly.
Proceedings were facilitated by Jacqui McNabb, head of enterprise, Kildare County Council, who formally opened the event and outlined the range of supports available to businesses through the Local Enterprise Office, including mentoring, training and financial supports.
Ms McNabb highlighted the Council’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive enterprise environment for women-led businesses across the county.
Guests were welcomed with a musical performance by Eimear Crehan which set an uplifting and reflective tone for the afternoon.
Speakers on the day included Magda of ‘Pure Oskar’ and Geraldine Osborne, author of ‘Somewhere Cold’.
A panel discussion chaired by Amanda Cahir O’Donnell of SkyRed Leadership featured Geraldine Osborne, Aisling O’Toole, Linda Chanders and Lynne Connolly, and explored themes of leadership, resilience and personal development in a discussion engaged with audience Q&A.
