LOCAL Enterprise Office Donegal celebrated National Women’s Enterprise Day with an evening event in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny on Thursday.

The evening brought together women in business from across the county for an inspiring programme of talks, networking, and shared learning. 

With a focus on insight, growth, and visibility, the event highlighted the innovation and resilience of women leading businesses in Donegal and beyond.

Hosted by transformational coach Orla Hasson, the event featured an impressive line-up of speakers, including keynote speaker, Tessa Breslin, an internationally recognised leadership advisor to Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies. Breslin’s keynote inspired attendees to embrace strategic thinking, resilience, and confidence in scaling their businesses.

The Donegal National Women’s Enterprise Day Ambassador, Olivia Finney, co-founder of New Kid Coffee in Letterkenny, shared her entrepreneurial journey and insights into building a brand from the ground up. 

She was joined by Sally Murphy, TEDx speaker and communications consultant, and Caroline McLaughlin, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, for an engaging panel discussion exploring leadership, communication, and the realities of business growth.

Keynote speaker for National Women’s Enterprise Day, Tessa Breslin.

The evening also included a restorative breathwork session led by Jacqueline Toner of Healing Flow Wellness, and guided networking facilitated by Mirenda Rosenberg, creating a relaxed space for meaningful connections among participants.

Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal, said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day highlights the value women bring to business across Ireland. 

“But more than just an annual event, it reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurship in Donegal. Through initiatives like the Ambition programme and a strong focus on access, visibility and connection, we’re working to build a stronger pipeline of female-led businesses, supporting women not just to start, but to scale and succeed.”

Olivia Finney, Caroline McLoughlin, Orla Hasson, Asst. Head of Enterprise, Grace Korbel, Head of Enterprise Brenda Hegarty, Sectoral Executive, Sinead Milligan, Mirenda Rosenberg, Jaqueline Toner and Sally Murphy at National Women’s Enterprise Day.

LEO Donegal is committed to supporting female entrepreneurship through targeted programmes like the Ambition Accelerator, which helps women with high-growth potential ventures to scale their businesses, access investment, and create employment.

Since its launch, Ambition has supported 43 business ideas, created 57 new jobs (both full-time and part-time), and helped 69 per cent of participants continue to work full-time in their businesses. Additionally, 78 per cent have gone on to access next stage supports, with a combined support value of over €801,000. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of focused, high-quality supports and the value of consistent investment in female-led enterprise.

The success of National Women’s Enterprise Day 2025 demonstrates the importance of visibility, growth, and insight in driving forward Donegal’s female entrepreneurs.