Kildare businesswomen share importance of support

Edel Walsh, founder of Edel Walsh Coaching and Consultancy, and Anna McGrath, founder of Shine Through Supports, have both successfully completed the ACORNS programme – a highly-successful development initiative to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.

They are encouraging other women in Co Kildare to apply for the next cycle of the free business development programme, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

ACORNS has been providing a decade of support for female entrepreneurship in rural Ireland and has recently launched the 10th cycle of the business development programme.

The free initiative for early-stage female entrepreneurs is funded through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM).

The deadline for applications for this special 10th anniversary cycle is midnight, 20 September. There are up to 50 places available for ACORNS 10. Those wishing to receive an application form should register on acorns.ie.

Edel recently completed the last cycle of the programme, ACORNS 9. She is the founder of Edel Walsh Coaching and Consultancy, a business aiming to support accountancy students with their personal and academic development while prioritising their mental health and wellbeing.

Edel is a former accountant and lecturer with experience designing accountancy exams. She is something of a trailblazer in the field of student and exam coaching, her singular offering attracting three of the Big Four accountancy firms, the Irish Institute of Tax, and three of the biggest accountancy institutes in Ireland, as clients. She is based in Johnstown in Naas.

“It was with the help of my ACORNS Lead Entrepreneur and my group of female entrepreneurs that I was able to get so much more clarity on my business,” Edel explained. “Before joining ACORNS, I was targeting a lot of different markets. ACORNS gave me the confidence and clarity to focus on my specific market. This was scary however, as I thought I would lose sales as a result. My group challenged and supported me and ultimately my business has grown since.” 

Anna, meanwhile, is the founder of Shine Through Supports, a play therapy centre for children based in Kildare town. Anna has combined her experience as an accredited play therapist, primary school teacher and mother to develop a unique framework for addressing both the symptoms and root causes of emotional distress in children, an approach which gives them the tools and confidence to take on the challenges of their daily lives. She also recently set up Connected Childhood, an online information hub for parents and teachers. Anna completed ACORNS 9 earlier this year.

“Participating on ACORNS 9 meant that I had a space where I could find my feet as a business woman, and grow and explore possibilities in a supported, safely guided way,” Anna said. “It offered a whole new dimension to my own learning and I am so grateful for how it was structured and paced. That sense of belonging in a group of such inspiring business people is something I value so highly.” 

ACORNS participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions, which are facilitated by a Lead Entrepreneur, who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland.

Only early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2021, are eligible to apply. As ACORNS receives many more applications than there are places available, selection is on a competitive basis.

ACORNS 10 will run from October 2024 to April 2025 and will include six monthly round table sessions, a workshop on understanding financials, a briefing by various development agencies and an end-of-cycle celebration.

There will be no charge for those selected to participate in ACORNS 10, thanks to the continuing support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the voluntary contribution of time by the Lead Entrepreneurs.