Cork Network celebrates Businesswomen of the Year

Awards were presented across eight categories

President of Network Cork. Susana Marambio; national president Network Ireland Linda Codoul; and vice-president of Network Cork Cathy Fitzgibbon, with this year's award winners Oral McAndrew, Dr Siobhán Lucey, Patricia Macropoulos, Dara O’Shea, Lorna Horgan, Maura Mackey, Stef McSherry, Elaine Duggan and Liz Gavin. Picture: Darragh Kane

A good after dinner speaker knows their audience; makes them think, makes them laugh, and touches on all the right themes for the evening.

In Cork, a great speaker does all that, but gets a jibe in against a neighbouring county.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney addressed the Cork branch of the Network Women in Business annual awards in Vienna Woods on Thursday evening by welcoming all the distinguished guests, and noting even though the Limerick awards were also on the same night, national president of Network Ireland Linda Codoul chose to celebrate with the rebels. "She knows where the real influence is," he said.

It was a good choice, as the branch celebrated in inimitable style the 45 women from across Cork City and county who were shortlisted for the awards across eight categories. 

The winners were determined by a judging panel comprised of business experts including Evelyn Moynihan, CEO, Kilkenny Group; Audrey Houlihan, branch manager at AIB Blackpool; and Niall O’Keeffe, head of enterprise at LEO Cork City.

Susana Marambio's Cork President’s Award was presented to Elaine Duggan, deputy features editor of The Echo and EchoLive.ie and editor of the paper's 'Women on Wednesday' (WoW!) supplement, for her support on amplifying stories of individuals driving change in Cork.

The event, which included dinner and drinks reception sponsored by Rebel City Distillery, was ably hosted by TV presenter Anna Daly, who shared her own experiences as founder of slow fashion brand Little Bliss.

Network Cork Awards co-ordinator Cathy Fitzgibbon spoke of the exceptional talent and innovation within Cork's business community: “We are reminded of the incredible talent, dedication and innovation that define our business community here in Cork."

Susana Marambio extended her congratulations to this year’s winners. “We’re immensely proud to celebrate our outstanding winners. Their stories will undoubtedly inspire not only the next generation, but all women in business. Let's continue to support and uplift one another as we celebrate their exceptional accomplishments.”

Winners: 

• Dara O’ Shea, RHEA, Emerging Businesswoman, sponsored by Occupational Health Solutions; 
• Elizabeth Gavin, NuaFood, Established Businesswoman, sponsored by Hegarty Properties;
• Orla McAndrew, Orla McAndrew Food, Solo Businesswoman, sponsored by Up She Rises; 
• Patricia Macropoulos, Access Laboratories, Stem Professional, sponsored by Kneat Solutions; 
• Stef McSherry, Kinderama, Creative Professional, sponsored by Maura Mackey Design; 
• Lorna Horgan, Cork's 96FM and C103, Employee Rising Star, sponsored by Celtic Ross Hotel; 
• Siobhán Lucey, University College Cork, Employee Shining Star, sponsored by Avenues Consultancy & Coaching 
• Maura Mackey, Maura Mackey Design, Networker of the Year, sponsored by HerMoney.

CORK BUSINESS

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