Figures reveal that 13,500 training places and 3,700 mentoring assignments have been taken up by women in business over last two years, across four Dublin Local Enterprise Offices
Over three hundred women in business from Fingal - and the wider Dublin area – gathered in Stillorgan this week to celebrate National Women’s Enterprise Day (Thursday, October 15th).
Organised by the four Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Dublin, including Local Enterprise Office Fingal, the sell-out event at the Talbot Hotel Stillorgan marked 20 years of National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) and was one of sixteen events taking place across the country this week.
Figures released by the four Local Enterprise Offices in Dublin to coincide with NWED, show that 13,500 training places and 3,700 mentoring assignments have been taken up by women in business over last two years, across Dublin. The four LEOs in Dublin also support more than 2,250 female entrepreneurs annually through Women in Business Networks.
As part of the Female Founders’ panel at this year’s event Mags Morgan of MizzRio shared her business journey on stage alongside Sofie Rooney of Chimac, Áine Devlin of ExamRevision and Dervla Arthurs of Snugabugz.
They were joined by multi-award-winning entrepreneur Jennifer Rock of the Skin Nerd and Danica Murphy of Prism with BroadcasterAnna Daly acting as the M.C. for the morning.
Commenting on the figures released for NWED,Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Fingal, said:“Our research shows that thousands of women and female founders across Dublin are already accessing supports through their Local Enterprise Office. We want to see even more women coming through our doors, whether they are thinking about starting a business or looking to grow an existing one. Come and talk to us about your plans, and we can help identify the supports that are right for you and your business.”
One of the busiest areas on the day was the Exhibition Zone, where representatives from major state support agencies and organisations were giving out information to those starting up or running a business. They included:
- Local Enterprise Offices (DLR, South Dublin, Dublin City and Fingal)
- Enterprise Ireland
- National Enterprise Hub
- Microfinance Ireland
- Credit Review Office
- Department of Social Protection (Employer Relations)
- Revenue
- InterTradeIreland
- IADT
- NovaUCD
- TU Dublin
- Southside Partnership
- Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (Services for Business team)
Mizz Rio was one of the Dublin Region businesses featured on stage at this year's National Women's Enterprise Day event. Founded by Mags Morgan, Mizz Rio is an independent Irish bridal fashion brand specialising in bespoke bridal design, ready-to-wear pieces, veils, capes, accessories and statement pieces. Built around the principles of identity and self-expression, the brand creates bridal fashion for women who want to define their own style and write their own rules. From its base in Fingal, the business has grown to achieve international success and now exports to markets across the globe.
Speaking about National Women’s Enterprise Day, Mags Morgan from Mizz Rio said: “National Women’s Enterprise Day is important because it creates space for women in business to stop and recognise what they are building. I think, as women, we are not always good at acknowledging achievements, milestones or even the fact that we have simply got through another busy day of work while also taking care of family and life outside the business. We often move straight on to the next thing without stopping to take stock or give ourselves a moment of recognition. For me, it is not just about celebration. It is about connection, perspective and leaving the room feeling reset and re-energised.”
Next year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day event for the Dublin Region will take place in October 2027 in South Dublin.
