THE Donegal Women in Business Network, in partnership with Creative Connections, and supported by funders Local Enterprise Office Donegal, and sponsored by the ATU Department of Business, will host The Business of Being Creative this Friday, May 15.
The event will take place at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, from 2pm to 6pm. It is open to all women and men in business across Donegal, whether running their own business or working within one, and is aimed particularly at those working in or alongside the creative sector. Tickets are €10 for members and €20 for non-members.
The afternoon will feature a keynote address from Tara Prendergast, founder of The Biscuit Factory and a well-known advocate for creative enterprise in Ireland. Drawing on three decades of starting, growing and selling businesses, and her work designing creative entrepreneurship programmes with Trinity’s Tangent and Local Enterprise Offices, Tara will speak frankly about building a sustainable creative business that can withstand economic pressures, shifting trends and the rise of AI without losing its identity.
The keynote will be followed by a fireside chat with four Donegal-based creatives: brand designer Mari Therese McCallion of Studio.Marbar, Inishowen; award-winning printmaker and graphic designer Laura Buchanan; writer and workshop facilitator Isla McGuckin; and actor, director, and writer, Dorothy Duffy, known for her role in The Magdalene Sisters. Each brings a different perspective on navigating the realities of creative work in the North West.
The event will also include networking, with the afternoon designed to give attendees practical insight into pricing, growth, visibility and resilience, alongside the space to connect with other creatives from across the county.
Sally Murphy, President of the Donegal Women in Business Network, said: “The Business of Being Creative is one of the events we are most looking forward to this year. Bookings have been strong, but spaces are limited, so we would encourage anyone thinking about attending to book soon. This is a conversation that is long overdue – about what it really takes to build a creative business here in Donegal, and how we support each other to do that.”
Adding to this, Tara Prendergast said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Donegal for this event. Creativity has always been woven into the fabric of this county, and there is no shortage of talent here. What I hope to explore on the day is how we take that talent and build something around it that lasts, commercially, creatively and personally. It should be a brilliant afternoon.”
Award-winning printmaker and graphic designer Laura Buchanan.
