KILKENNY BUSINESSWOMAN WINS FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Dynamic Kilkenny businesswoman, Mags Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Thomastown, has been named the South East's Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2010.
Kirwan took the top honour at the South East Female Excellence in Business Awards organised by County and City Enterprise Boards in the region.
The awards were set-up two years ago to help recognise the achievements of local female entrepreneurs and to help boost the numbers of women setting up their own businesses.
Mags and her husband, Ger, run Goatsbridge Trout Farm in the shadows of one of Irelands best known historical landmarks, Jerpoint Abbey, outside Thomastown. This year they became the first trout farm in Europe to supply boneless trout fillets to their customers using a new machine they prototyped. They are also planning to launch a new range of marinated and crumbed fillets on the market in the coming months.
The trout farm is one of the leading providers of live trout for the restocking of lakes, rivers and fisheries in Ireland. They also supply 350,000 of Goatsbridge Premium Irish Trout to hotels, restaurants, caterers, supermarkets and fish wholesalers around the country every year.
The family run business was started by Mag's mother-in-law and father-in-law 49 years ago when they were looking to supplement their farming income. Mag, a biochemist, met her husband. Ger, when she was studying in UCD.
Mags won the award from a shortlist of twenty-five enterprising women from all over the South East, representing Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford and Waterford.
“I am delighted to have won this award. It’s a major boost and a reflection of all the hard work I have put in over the years” she said. “I think this type of award will go a long way towards encouraging more women to get active in business.”
Mags is a daughter of Kitty Donohoe and the late Ned Donohoe from Goresbridge in Co Kilkenny. Ned Donohoe started Goresbridge Horse Sales in 1968, and it is today one of the biggest sales of half bred horses in the World.
“I got my drive and ambition from both my parents but especially my mother who built up Goresbridge Horse sales with my brother Martin after my father died in 1978. She was one of Ireland’s first real women entrepreneurs at a time when women were not encouraged to get involved in business.
“As a widow with ten children her achievements in business were even more remarkable.”
As well as being a busy businesswoman, Mags is a also a busy mother to four children under the age of ten, Ned, Aine, Padraig and Orla.
Mags was presented with her award last Friday at a conference in Waterford attended by more than 150 businesswomen and representatives from business support agencies.
Also, the 'Excellence in Food and Tourism Award' was presented to Sarah Gough from Mileeven Fine Food from Piltown.
Speakers included Sean Gallagher from Dragons Den, Monica Leech from Outside Thinking Strategic Communications, Louise Grubb from Nutri-Science, Veronica Canning, author of ‘Shoeisms’ and Sheila Gallogly from Mrla.ie.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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