Lough Rynn Castle on Tuesday, 12th December, 2017

All roads lead to Lough Rynn Castle on Tuesday night when Women in Business in Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath got together to hear the inspirational stories of two very successful women, Jane Swarbrigg, founder and Company Director of Inglot Ireland and Jean Farrell, Retired Teacher, turned Stand-Up Comedian.  The event was organised jointly by the Local Enterprise Offices of Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath with the aim of fostering relationships between the Women in Business Network across the counties involved.

The crowd heard how Jane Swarbrigg set up the business in the midst of the recession in 2007 alongside her mother Geraldine and brother, Peter.  Inglot, renowned for its innovative and premium quality products sells more than just makeup.  The have created an interactive community of artists and customers who share a common love for makeup and creativity!  Jane harnessed her passion for makeup, marketing and team building and evolved the company into the thriving powerhouse it is today!  The Irish franchise now has 16 stores and has started its expansion into the UK with the first store just opened in Newcastle.  It boasts a huge following of #inglotaddicts, a term used to describe their legion of followers, customers and 300 strong makeup artists.  The business is going from strength to strength, with plenty more exciting plans in the pipeline.

Jean Farrell, a retired teacher from Athlone is now living her dream of being a Stand-Up Comedian.  She entertained the attendees with her amazing story.  For her 50th birthday, her daughter brought her to see Joan Rivers perform in Vicar Street and that was the moment when she knew what she wanted to be.  On her 60th birthday, Jean retired from teaching and realised that time was running out - 'I'd better hurry up and realise my ambition.'  Now, at 66 years of age, she is touring with her one woman show, 'The Six Marys.'

Nicola McManus from the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office commented that "Hearing from Inspirational Women in business, like Jane Swarbrigg and Jean Farrell, on how they achieved success, is important when trying to encourage more women to take the plunge into business themselves or to grow their existing business"