An exciting year of reflection, forethought and celebration lies ahead for the Donegal Women in Business Network in 2019.

Twenty years ago, local women in enterprise gained a group that they could belong to, gain support from and contribute to in their own unique way.

The voluntary non-profit network has endured the changing climate of business over the decades and given a warm welcome to thousands of members – from CEOs to managers, from consultants, creatives and start-ups and everything in between.

This year the Donegal Women in Business Network will celebrate the business spirit of all local woman with a jam-packed 2019 programme of events, which was launched on Thursday 24th January in the Silver Tassie Hotel Letterkenny.

Michael Tunney, Trish McGinley, Deirdre McGlone and Evelyn Mc Glynn at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

#LookingBackMovingForward – The Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch at the Silver Tassie Hotel

Their annual conference on 1st October, a visit to Dáil Éireann in May, charity fundraisers and networking mornings are all in the pipeline for this diverse group.

DWBN President and Hotelier Deirdre McGlone said: “This year is exceptionally exciting because we have a calendar of events like no other.”

DWBN President Deirdre McGlone (Harvey’s Point) and Evelyn Mc Glynn (Evelyn McMarketing) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Ms McGlone paid tribute to DWBN event organisers Evelyn Mc Glynn and Trish Mc Ginley and commended all members: “We have a network we should be so proud of. It’s yourselves that make it happen.

“I feel that going into the year that’s ahead we have so many opportunities to connect with each other, to share experiences, to have fun, to learn and overcome challenges and be proud of what we do.”

DWBN Secretary Trish McGinley at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Ms McGlone encouraged members to share the word about DWBN to grow the inclusive community further, adding “We belong together. In can be a lonely place in business and it can be a place where you feel you are without support, but that support is right here. So let’s work together to make everyone feel that they belong.”

Checking out the #LookingBackMovingForward calendar of events: Valerie McNulty, Marie Donnelly (Crochet) and Eileen Dennison at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

The overriding theme of this milestone year will be Looking Back, Moving Forward.

DWBN PRO Evelyn Mc Glynn said the theme celebrated women in the past, mothers and grandmothers who worked locally and did not realise they were in business.

Ms Mc Glynn said: “We want to celebrate looking back at the last 20 years of the network and the last 100 years of women. All the past members and presidents of the network and going back before that to the Bean and Tí’s, the women who knitted Aran jumpers right through to the millennials of today who are setting up their business. Also, we are remembering wonderful women who are no longer with us.”

Michael Tunney (Head of Local Enterprise Donegal), Evelyn Mc Glynn (Evelyn Mc Marketing and DWBN PRO) and Eunan Quinn (Excel Sports) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Head of Local Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney recalled the 1998 origins of the first Donegal Women in Business committee, which became the foundation of the network.
Mr Tunney said LEO Donegal was delighted to support the DWBN in 2019.

The challenge for all people in business today, he said, was raising ambition.

“It’s a challenge for ourselves in the local enterprise office working with small businesses and for females in business. It’s about aiming slightly higher,” Mr Tunney said.

“I think there are opportunities there, I would say to set the bar higher,” he added.

DWBN Committee: Deirdre McGlone, Trish McGinley, Michael Tunney (LEO Donegal), Evelyn Mc Glynn, Leah Fairman and Catherine Lyster at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

The celebratory evening, complete with a bespoke cake, marked the beginning of a year to remember for the network. An e-book will also be created this year, funded by LEO, to tell the story of the network, to honour past and current members, and to look forward to a bright future.

Joining Donegal Women in Business Network is easy and connects members to a wide community of ambitious and passionate people.

Find out more here: donegalwomeninbusiness.com/why-join

DW was there for all the night’s celebrations, see more photos from the event gallery below: 

Anne Tuohy (Interior Designer at Room Junkie) and Barbara Edwards (Rhythmic Noise) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Rose Blaney (Silver Tassie Hotel), Collette Ferguson (NW Simon Community), Patricia Treacy (Dunwiley Nursery), Vicky Kee (Kee’s Hotel) and Evelyn Mc Glynn (Evelyn McMarketing and DWBN PRO) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Evelyn Mc Glynn, Leah Fairman, Trish McGinley and Catherina Lyster at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Caitriona Mulhern (Foy & Co), Grace Ann McGarvey (Grace Ann Consultancy), Patricia Greene (Be Productive) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Irene Sweeney (Castle Grove Country House Hotel) and Marie Shields (Moss Marketing) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Emma Boylan (Outside the Box) and Stevie Klein (The Sleepover Club) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Magician Jessica Harkin and Brenda Smith (B Smith Studios) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Enjoying the Silver Tassie Hotel refreshments at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Sonya Pepelyashkova (Motley Crow), Eileen Sweeney (AIB Bank), Camilla Meegan (Poca Productions) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

LYIT President Paul Hannigan at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Clare McNickle (Clare Clothing), Wayne McGrath (Declan Gallagher Financial Services), Paul Hannigan (LYIT President) and Catherine Lyster (Careers Officer at LYIT) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Nicola Kelly (A Spoonful of Fun), Grainne Duffy (Harmony Lane Holistic Therapy and Harmony Babies Reflexology), Collette Ferguson (NW Simon Community) and Sosie Pasparakis (Pasparakis-Friel Architects) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Shona Chambers (John McColgan Financial Services), Nicola Gavigan (Seclusion Spa), Claire Carron (Financial Services) and Cllr Niamh Kennedy at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Camilla Meegan from Poca Productions showing some video tips to Barbara Edwards and Deirdre McGlone at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Karina Kelly (360 Crew), Owen O’Malley (Ticn.ie) and Janine Sullivan (JKS Design) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Jessica Harkin Magician doing some tricks at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Kathy Dunn (Revive Dunfanaghy), Joanne Butler (OURganic Gardens), Maggie McKinney (Donegal Hypnotherapy), Leonie Ferry (Ferry Photo) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Donegal Town Women’s Group at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch: Christina Kennedy, Anjelica Giles, Maria Murphy, Georgina Casey, Geraldine Begley and Carol Lyster.

Carmel Brennan (Bank of Ireland), Marjorie Morrsion (Bank of Ireland) and Patricia Doherty (LYIT School of Business) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Stevie Toye (Logopix) and Janeth Toye (YOUNIQUE) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Patricia Connolly (Poppy Interior Design) and Judi Hannon at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Dr. Claire Ryan (Itus Secure Technologies), Heather Peoples (Minding Me) and Maureen Hamilton (Floor IT) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch

Themed cake by Kellie Patton (Kellie’s Cakes) at the Donegal Women in Business Network 20th Anniversary Celebrations Launch