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Winners of the Network Ireland Kerry inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee from left were: Denise Healy (Castel Education), Jacqueline Gavaghan (MTU), Kerry McCarthy Brady (Hercules Building Systems), Edel Lawlor (Expressive Play), Helen O’Sullivan Murphy (O’Sullivan’s Bakery), Dr Fiona Boyle (MTU) and Brigeen O’Sullivan (Match Marketing), pictured with President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan (fourth left). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
NETWORK Ireland Kerry hosted their inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel to great acclaim and a full house.
The evening showcased 30 finalists who amongst them competed in seven categories. Special guests on the evening included Minister Norma Foley, Trisha Lewis of “Trisha’s Transformation” and the national president of Network Ireland, Linda Codul.
President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan said; “this evening showcases the incredible talent, entrepreneurship, motivation, dedication to academia and commitment to raising the bar for themselves our finalists are demonstrating daily in their professional and personal lives.”
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“It is an honour to recognise all our winners this evening and we will proudly support them as they go forward to the national finals where they will compete with finalists from the other 16 branches throughout the country. This process involves interviews in AIB, Molesworth St, Dublin, and a gala event to be hosted in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny on the 27th of September where the national Network Ireland winners of each category will be announced.”
The winners of each category were:
Network Ireland Kerry hosted their inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Helen O’Sullivan Murphy, MD of O’Sullivan’s Bakery, was named the Established Businesswomen Category Winner. Pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’, Helen O’Sullivan Murphy and Antoinette Glavin (Glavin & Wiseman Chartered Accountants). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Established Businesswomen Category — Winner – Helen O’Sullivan Murphy, MD of O’ Sullivan’s Bakery.
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Network Ireland Kerry hosted their inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Katherine O’Sullivan, Lecturer on the REEdI Project at the Department of STEM, MTU was Highly Commended in the Employee Shining Star category. Pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’, Katherine O’Sullivan and Colleen Shannon (AIB). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Employee Shining Star category — Highly Commended – Katherine O’Sullivan, Lecturer on the REEdI Project at the Department of STEM, MTU.
One to watch – Sarah Flaherty – member of the senior management team at MTU. University
Network Ireland Kerry hosted their inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Denise Healy, Centre Director, Castel Education was named the Branch Winner in the Employee Shining Star category. Pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’, Denise Healy and Colleen Shannon (AIB). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Winner Employee Shining Star – Denise Healy, Centre Director, Castel Education.
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Network Ireland Kerry hosted their inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Edel Lawlor, Founder of Expressive Play was named Winner of the Solo Businesswoman Category. Pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’, Edel Lawlor and Brid McElliott (MTU). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Solo Businesswoman Category Winner – Edel Lawlor, Founder of Expressive Play
Creative Professional Category
One to Watch – Anita Michalak, founder of The Digital Talk.
Brigeen O’Sullivan (third right), Managing Partner at Match Marketing, was named the Winner in the Creative Professional category at the Network Ireland Kerry inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Also pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’ and Jessica O’Connor. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Winner Creative Professional – Brigeen O’ Sullivan – Managing Partner Match Marketing.
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Winner of the STEM Professional Category at the Network Ireland Kerry inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee, was Dr Fiona Boyle (third right), Head of Department – STEM (Director of REEdI at MTU). Also pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’ and Stephen Buttimer, Head of Business Payments and FX for Fexco. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
STEM Professional Category — Winner – Dr Fiona Boyle, Head of Department- STEM (Director of REEdI at MTU).
Emerging Businesswoman Category — Winner – Kerry Mc Carthy Brady, CEO, Hercules Building Systems.
Aisling Foley, Sales & Marketing Manager, The Rose Hotel, Tralee was named One to Watch in the Networker of the Year Category at the Network Ireland Kerry inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Pictured were: President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Aisling Foley, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’ and Amy O’Sullivan (Vice President Network Ireland). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Networker of the Year Category — One to Watch – Aisling Foley, Sales & Marketing Manager, The Rose Hotel, Tralee.
Winner of the Networker of the Year Category was Jacqueline Gavaghan, Lecturer in Management/Strategy, MTU at the Network Ireland Kerry inaugural Businesswomen of the Year Awards on Friday night in The Rose Hotel, Tralee. Jacqueline (third left) is pictured with Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation’, Amy O’Sullivan (Vice President Network Ireland) and Emily Reen (MTU). Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
Winner – Jacqueline Gavaghan, Lecturer in Management/Strategy, MTU.
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Joan Walsh (Partnership International), the esteemed Branch Liaison and the 2026 Network Ireland National President, was given the The President’s Award for her trojan work and leadership, support, and collaboration. Joan is pictured with President of Network Ireland Kerry, Linda O’Mahony Logan, Trisha Lewis of ‘Trisha’s Transformation and the Network Ireland Kerry committee. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean Photography
The President’s Award – this accolade is designed to honour an outstanding leader who embodies the core values of Network Ireland: leadership, support, and collaboration.
This year, the award recognises an individual whose inspirational leadership and visionary perspective have been pivotal. Joan Walsh, the esteemed Branch Liaison and the 2026 National President, has demonstrated unwavering support, generosity, and guidance, always ready to assist with both the significant challenges and the smaller details that are so important to a branch.
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