More than 300 women entrepreneurs gathered in Stillorgan this week as National Women’s Enterprise Day marked its 20th anniversary. The event highlighted the scale of support available to female founders across the capital and the growing contribution of women-led companies to Dublin business.
Women entrepreneurs celebrate a milestone in Stillorgan
Hosted at the Talbot Hotel Stillorgan on 15 October 2026, the sell-out gathering was organised by Dublin’s four Local Enterprise Offices and led by the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown office. It was one of 16 National Women’s Enterprise Day events held around Ireland.
The occasion combined networking, practical advice and personal stories from founders. Speakers included Jennifer Rock of The Skin Nerd, Danica Murphy of Prism, Sofie Rooney of Chimac, Mags Morgan of MizzRio, Áine Devlin of ExamRevision and Dervla Arthurs of Snugabugz. Broadcaster Anna Daly chaired the morning, while Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Saul delivered the opening address.
Dublin business support reaches thousands
Figures released for the event show that women across Dublin took up 13,500 training places and 3,700 mentoring assignments through the four Local Enterprise Offices during the past two years. The offices also support more than 2,250 female entrepreneurs every year through Women in Business Networks.
The event’s exhibition zone gave attendees access to organisations including Enterprise Ireland, Microfinance Ireland, Revenue, InterTradeIreland, the National Enterprise Hub, NovaUCD, TU Dublin, IADT and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board.
- Training and mentoring for new and established founders
- Guidance on finance, tax and employment responsibilities
- Connections with education, innovation and enterprise agencies
- Networking opportunities through local Women in Business Networks
A practical route for aspiring founders
Lisa Brown, Head of Enterprise at LEO Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, encouraged women considering entrepreneurship to contact their Local Enterprise Office. Support can be tailored to people exploring an idea as well as owners seeking to grow an existing company.
That message is particularly relevant for people researching how to start a company in Ireland, whether they need business training, mentoring, market advice or information about available supports.
Read more: Dublin enterprise and community updates
For further local coverage, explore Dublin news and business stories from Daily Digest.
From personal experience to a growing Irish brand
Dervla Arthurs, founder of Blackrock-based Snugabugz, shared how her experience as a mother of three inspired patented socks and booties designed to remain on babies’ feet. Founded in 2024, the company has since served more than 10,000 customers.
Her contribution reflected one of the event’s central themes: honest accounts of uncertainty, setbacks and progress can give other women the confidence to pursue their own ideas.
Explore more: opportunities for Ireland’s founders
Women planning to build a company can also review Irish startup, careers and investment coverage on Daily Digest for wider context on the business environment.
What happens next?
The Dublin-region National Women’s Enterprise Day event will return to South Dublin in October 2027. Until then, the Local Enterprise Offices remain a key first point of contact for women seeking training, mentoring and advice.
For anyone following Dublin business, the message from the 2026 gathering is clear: local networks and practical enterprise supports are helping more women turn ideas into sustainable companies. National Women’s Enterprise Day continues to provide the visibility, connections and encouragement needed to keep that progress moving.