Tri-county Women in Business networking event attracts large crowd
Westmeath woman shares entrepreneurial journey
Over 80 businesswomen from Westmeath, Longford and Leitrim attended a Tri-county Women in Business networking event held recently.
Held in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, on May 29 last, the event heard from three guest speakers from the three counties, who shared their entrepreneurial journeys to date. These were Denise Buckley of The Sugarplum Sweetery, Mullingar, Fiona McCormack from The Farmhouse Bees and Trees Ltd, Abbeyshrule, and Leitrim-based Anne Dolan.
MC for the day was Ruth Larkin of Lark Bridal. All of the speakers participated in a lively and insightful panel discussion, which was followed by a networking session where attendees engaged in informal discussions, sharing experiences and learning from one another. The event was organised jointly by the Local Enterprise Offices of Westmeath, Longford and Leitrim to enhance connections within the Women in Business network across the participating counties.
Westmeath’s speaker was Denise Buckley, founder and CEO of Sugar Plum Sweetery and co-founder of Wholesome Kitchen, two award-winning businesses based in Mullingar. In 2019, she launched Wholesome Kitchen, a modern restaurant and catering company, with her husband David. Just a few years later, she founded Sugar Plum Sweetery - a unique confectionery and gifting brand known for its handmade chocolates, viral product launches, and magical pick & mix experience for all ages. Today, both brands employ over 70 people and have built a combined online community of more than 110,000 followers. Sugar Plum Sweetery has grown into a national brand, with products now stocked in Avoca and Brown Thomas Arnotts, and has featured on major platforms including RTÉ, 2FM, Ireland AM, and in the national press. Denise’s work has earned her recognition across multiple national award stages, including the National Enterprise Awards, Blas na hÉireann, Great Taste Awards, and the Fit Out Awards.
Longford’s guest business speaker, Fiona McCormack, from The Farmhouse Bees and Trees Ltd, spoke about her family run business, which started in 2022. They keep native Irish honeybees on the banks of the River Inny and the Royal Canal Greenway in Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford. The business produces raw Irish honey and pure beeswax candles.
Leitrim business speaker, Anne Dolan, has almost 20 years’ experience in the Graphic Design Industry. Anne shared her story on how her previous work experiences and passion for design, led her to launching her own two businesses: Annie Design and Annie Ideas. Anne previously held the Senior Marketing role of one of Irelands largest fashion brands giving her a great insight into branding and marketing, working with national television and radio advertising and managing 28 stores nationwide. Alongside Annie Design and Annie Ideas, Anne is now enjoying her Mentor role for Local Enterprise Office Leitrim offering support on all areas of branding and marketing.
MC Ruth Larkin is a serial industry entrepreneur behind multiple multi-million-euro businesses, and a professional consultant, trainer, executive coach and mentor, focusing on foreign expansion, commercialisation, and sales and marketing strategy. Ruth is the founder and Managing Director of Lark Bridal Ltd, the largest independent global distributor of a portfolio of international brands, including the largest bridal and bridesmaid’s brands in the world, such as Maggie Sottero Designs and The Dessy Group. The company currently exports to 32 countries and works directly with over 1,000 accounts in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and is responsible for all aspects from market entry strategy, management, promotion, sales and marketing, PR, QC, distribution, and design.