Women in business: From Acorns, mighty forests grow

A unique initiative offers support to female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland

The initiative is open to women with a new business idea based in rural Ireland or a well-developed plan to get a new venture off the ground. File picture: Pexel

A woman who grew up in Australia is now selling pasture-range eggs laid by nearly 1,000 hens on a farm in Tipperary, while another has renovated an old farm outhouse near the Cliffs of Moher in Clare and converted it into a crafts and gifts shop, where visitors can also enjoy a coffee.

They are among 250 female entrepreneurs who have taken part over the past six years in the Government-back initiative, Acorns, which offers support for female entrepreneurs in rural areas.