National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) 2025 was celebrated in style on Thursday, 16th October at Tinakilly House Hotel in Rathnew, where 150 female business owners gathered for the occasion. The event was organised by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Wicklow and funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and local authorities.
Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Wicklow, opened the proceedings by introducing Helena Dennehy, Director of Services for Planning, Economic, and Rural Development at Wicklow County Council. Dennehy shared insights from her career in a predominantly male-dominated environment.
Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, welcomed the large crowd and spoke about Wicklow County Council’s support for women in business through the Local Enterprise Office. She commended those present, stating, “Today's event is a celebration of your success stories, which are setting a new standard for what is possible in the world of enterprise. It is through days like today that we inspire even more women to follow in your footsteps, to take that leap into the entrepreneurial world and build on their own vision for the future.”
Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, expressed her support of this important annual event, adding that “Wicklow County Council’s long-standing backing of National Women’s Enterprise Day, through the practical supports of the LEO, have allowed a vibrant culture of female entrepreneurship to flourish in the county. This is evidenced by the very impressive attendance at NWED 2025, the energy in the room, and the fact that all four guest speakers are proud female business owners living and working in County Wicklow. I encourage all those considering starting a business, or growing an existing one, to make contact with LEO Wicklow and learn what supports are available to them.”
The Wicklow NWED event, one of 15 held across the country on that day, ran from 12-4pm at Tinakilly House Hotel, with lunch served upon arrival. The theme, ‘Making it Happen,’ was designed to encourage businesswomen to take that next step, whether that meant acting on an idea, growing their business or taking steps to change or innovate in their business.
The keynote speaker was Kellie Fennell, a prominent Irish fitness entrepreneur, online coach and podcast host, with over 2 million followers across her social media channels. Kellie delivered a rousing, inspirational speech, detailing her business and personal journey, along with specific tips and practical advice for growing a business. Her one-to-one fitness coaching business has achieved global success, her podcast ranks second in the fitness category in Ireland and her new app, HBC (Human-Based Coaching), launched in May, is thriving. Originally from Roundwood and now residing in Glenmalure, Kellie has demonstrated that rural female-led businesses can not only thrive but also scale internationally and create employment opportunities.
In addition to Kellie's presentation, three LEO client businesses shared how various practical LEO support schemes, such as Business Expansion grants, LEAN for Business and Green for Business have helped them in their business journeys. The panel included Aisling McGann of Sisú, a plant-based beverage company based in Greystones that is stocked nationwide; Lynne Baillie of Vidvei Kitchens, a kitchen design company in Wicklow that participated in the LEAN for Business program and Valerie McHugh of Nick’s Coffee in Wicklow town, who discussed how the Green for Business program and the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) helped her enhance her green business credentials and acquire energy-efficient equipment.
All four speakers received rapturous applause, and the event concluded on a high note with a raffle featuring prizes donated by Wicklow-based businesses. The supports available for both women and men in business, provided by LEO Wicklow, were also highlighted.
For more information on how to engage with LEO Wicklow for those at the pre-start, start-up, or growth phases of their business, please visit www.localenterprise.ie/wicklow or call the LEO team at 0404 30800.
The large gathering of female entrepreneurs was joined by female councillors, including Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Melanie Corrigan, Leas Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Caroline Winstanley, Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Cllr. Lourda Scott and Cllr. Louise Fenelon-Gaskin.
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are part of the local authority structure and funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland. LEOs serve as essential resources for any entrepreneur seeking support or advice. Since their inception, the Local Enterprise Offices have contributed to the creation of over 75,000 jobs across the country. The team at LEO Wicklow collaborates with thousands of client companies in County Wicklow across various sectors, offering mentoring, training, expert advice, and financial supports to small businesses.