Programme to support rural female entrepreneurs launches 

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue with ACORNS participants: Olivia Morrissey, Rostellan Farm; Alison Ritchie, Polar Ice Ltd; and Carina Roseingrave, Burren View Farm. Picture: Paul Sherwood / Coalesce

ACORNS has reached a decade of providing support for female entrepreneurship in rural Ireland with the launch of the 10th cycle of the business development programme.

The free initiative for early-stage female entrepreneurs based in rural Ireland has been running since 2014. 

ACORNS 10 is now open for applications until midnight, September 20.

"This initiative has supported over 400 women in rural Ireland over the last 10 years," Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said. 

"The programme aims to address the skills, enterprise and capability gaps that female entrepreneurs can face and takes into account the barriers which often limit entrepreneurial activity in rural areas."

A survey carried out at the end of ACORNS 9 in April revealed that participants increased their total turnover over the course of the six-month programme by €1.2m, from €2.8m to €4m. 

Participants also reported doubling their total workforce to 133, with 59 full-time and 74 part-time staff employed at the end of the cycle – an increase of 67. There were also four new exporters over the cycle.

ACORNS is based on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. 

Participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions, which are facilitated by a lead entrepreneur, who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland. There are up to 50 places available for ACORNS 10. 

Only early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2021, are eligible to apply. 

ACORNS 10 will run from October 2024 to April 2025 and will include six monthly round table sessions, a workshop on understanding financials, a briefing by various development agencies, and an end-of-cycle celebration.