National businesswoman of the year award for Irene

KILRUSH woman, Irene Hamilton won the Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year award at the group’s national conference in Westport recently.
Daughter of Brendan and Rita Griffin, Irene is now based in Limerick, as regional managing director for Johnston Press, and is responsible for such long-established titles as The Limerick Leader, The Clonmel Nationalist and The Tipperary Star, as well as South Tipp Today.
Commenting on her win, she said she was delighted and honoured to receive the prestigious award. She acknowledged the support she received from Network Ireland national president Úna Murphy and all the members of Network Ireland and praised the group for their invaluable work in providing both an effective business and social networking platform for women in business right across the country.
The judging panel for the awards included Suzanne Kelly, barrister-at-law and fellow of the Irish Taxation Institute and Kevin MacCourt, executive head of learning and development, AIB Bank.
The conference theme was Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, with each contributor offering their own experience as direction for people aspiring to build their businesses.
Keynote speakers included telecommunications entrepreneur, Denis O’Brien; economist and broadcaster, David McWilliams and long-term Network Ireland member Darina Allen of Ballymaloe, along with a number of prominent Mid-West businesswomen.
Limerick woman Josephine Feehily, the first woman chair of the Revenue Commissioners, sketched her career from a school leaver to her current position, where she controls a budget of almost €500 million.
She advised delegates to take every opportunity offered, whether the immediate benefit was obvious or not and explained how Revenue is the most efficient Government department and how she runs it as a business, rather than as a department.
Telecommunications entrepreneur, Denis O’Brien described how his career included working as a sales rep for a horse feed company and as PA for Tony Ryan of GPA in Shannon, where he learned both a strong work ethic and an unfettered ambition.
He also admitted to being “terrible at maths” and having failed it in the Leaving Certificate.
David McWilliams chaired the afternoon panel session, while Darina Allen captivated the audience with her energy and passion for artisan food, small producers, slow food and the environment.
She spoke with enthusiasm and conviction, explaining how Ballymaloe not only survived the dark days of the 1980s but came out of it stronger and thriving. For more information on the Clare branch of Network Ireland, log on to www.networkireland.ie.