Venue:
The Rine Hotel (formery The Inn at Dromoland)
Join us for a morning of networking hosted by LEO Clare, dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs and business owners. Hear from Paula Fitzsimons and enjoy a facilitated panel discussion featuring inspiring Clare-based entrepreneurs:
Alison McGrath, First Steps
Edel Breslin, Oir Tonics
Dr. Finola Cliffe, Hooke Bio
Roisin Keown, The Brill Building
Gain valuable insights and practical advice during our Q&A session, followed by an engaging round‑table discussion across industries. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired.
Taking Your Business To The Next Level
Agenda:
10:00–10:15am — Registration & Networking
Settle in, meet fellow attendees, and start the morning with informal networking.
10:15am — Welcome from the Local Enterprise Office
An opening address to kick off the event and set the tone for an inspiring morning.
10:20am — Supporting Female Entrepreneurs and Business Owners with Paula Fitzsimons
Paula shares insights on empowering and advancing women in business.
10:50am — Supports for Women in Business with Theresa Mulvihill Killeen
An overview of the range of Local Enterprise Office supports available to female entrepreneurs.
11:05am — Break & Networking
Refreshments and an opportunity to connect further with peers.
11:30am — Panel Discussion: Clare’s Female Entrepreneurs
A facilitated conversation with:
Alison McGrath - First Steps
Edel Breslin - Óir Tonics
Dr. Finola Cliffe - Hooke Bio
Roisin Keown - The Brill Building
The panel will explore the journey of running a business as a female entrepreneur across a variety of sectors—highlighting the benefits of entrepreneurship, navigating funding and supports, managing the ups and downs of business life, and sharing tips for starting strong and sustaining momentum.
Includes a Q&A session and shared insights from attendees.
12:50pm — Closing Remarks
A wrap‑up to conclude a morning of learning, connection, and inspiration.
Speaker Profiles
Paula Fitzsimons is the founder of Fitzsimons Consulting, specialising in entrepreneurship and business growth. She served as Ireland’s national coordinator for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) for 20 years and sat on its global board as President of the national teams.
Paula is recognised for developing tailored, peer‑support‑based programmes that address the needs of specific entrepreneurial groups, many of which have been commended by the European Commission and the OECD. Her best‑known initiative, Going for Growth, now in its 18th cycle, has supported more than 1,100 ambitious female entrepreneurs with backing from Enterprise Ireland and KPMG.
She also created ACORNS, supporting early‑stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland. Now in its 11th year, over 550 women have taken part, with many remaining active in the ACORNS community. The initiative is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Paula established Back for Business, a programme for returning emigrants starting new ventures, now in its ninth cycle and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In 2020, she was appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the SME and Entrepreneurship Taskforce.
Edel Breslin is the founder and Managing Director of Óir Tonics, a Clare‑based wellness brand rooted in Irish tradition and wholefood ingredients. Based in Ennis, she created Óir Tonics from a personal desire to support health naturally, inspired by her grandmother’s use of carrageen moss and her own kitchen experiments during lockdown. Edel’s flagship creation, the Moss Boss tonic, reflects her commitment to sustainability, quality, and Irish‑sourced ingredients. Under her leadership, Óir Tonics has grown into an award‑winning enterprise, recognised for innovation, community impact, and its modern approach to traditional Irish wellness.
Alison McGrath is the founder and owner of My First Steps, a children’s footwear specialist with stores in Ennis and Galway. Inspired by her own disappointing experience buying shoes for her daughters, she recognised a gap in the market for a modern, child‑centred, health‑focused shoe‑fitting service. She opened her first store in Ennis in 2022, offering professional fittings, premium brands, and expert guidance for parents. Alison has since expanded to Galway and earned national recognition, including awards and grant programme success, for her innovative approach to children’s foot health and retail excellence
Dr. Finola Cliffe is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Hooke Bio Ltd, which is a Shannon-based biotechnology company, specialising in advanced microfluidics and microphysiological systems (MPS) for preclinical drug discovery. Founded in 2014 as a spin-out from the University of Limerick, the company develops high-throughput screening platforms that use 3D human cell models to generate more accurate, human-relevant data while reducing reliance on animal testing.
Since establishing the company in 2014, Finola has spearheaded the transformation of Hooke Bio from an academic concept at the University of Limerick into a commercial leader in new approach method technologies. The company, now a well-established SME with 16 employees, is on track to triple in size over the next two years. Dr. Cliffe is the named inventor on three European patents and has successfully raised over €12 million in funding and investment, including several competitive national and international awards and multiple private investment rounds. She earned her PhD in Biotechnology from UL in 2010 and has more than 18 years of experience in 2D and 3D cell culture, assay development and process optimisation. In addition to her scientific credentials, she has strong experience in commercialisation, grant acquisition, and strategic planning. Her leadership continues to guide Hooke Bio in delivering cutting-edge, automated platforms for safer, faster, and more predictive drug development.
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