'Leading light' Mary Crilly wins president's award!
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Winners Ciara O’Connell, Dawn Holton, Nadine Hughes Campbell, Mary Crilly, Laura Howard, Ciara Crossan, Louise Kane Buckley, Wendy O’Driscoll, and Najila Ahmadyar. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 2 of 8
Ingrid Seim, Avenues Coaching and Consultancy and Mary Casey, Salt Robin. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 3 of 8
Lucy Marshman, Paw Print Bakery and Candace Davy, Counselling with Candace. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 4 of 8
President of Glanmire Chamber Andrew Walker, Deputy Mayor of Cork Cllr Ciara O’Connor, President of Cork Business Association Dave O’Brien, President of Network Cork Diane Higgins, President Marketing Institute Marilyn Reidy, Deputy President of Cork Chamber Jim McGrath, Mayor of County of Cork Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, President of Cork Branch of Irish Hotel Federation Eoghan Murphy and CEO Cork Chamber Conor Healy. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 5 of 8
Ciara O’Connell, SolarHill, Wendy O’Driscoll Mitchels Fort and Olubunmi Akinkuotu, Hollycare. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 6 of 8
Orla McAndrew, Orla McAndrew Food and Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 7 of 8
Judges Marguerite O’Donovan, AIB and Helen Murphy, Local Enterprise Office. Darragh Kane PhotographyImage 8 of 8
Victoria Curtis and Laura Noonan, Cork Opera House. Darragh Kane PhotographyGlitz, glamour and business success filled the Kingsley Hotel over the weekend as the annual Network Cork Business Awards took place.
It was where some of Cork’s leading businesswomen were honoured with the winners recognised across a range of industries and professions.
The flagship event brought together members of Cork’s vibrant business community to celebrate excellence, innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial success among women across the region. The evening featured keynote speeches, a gourmet dinner, and the highly anticipated awards ceremony, shining a spotlight on women making remarkable contributions to the business community in Cork.
This year’s awards reflected the spirit of Network Ireland Cork President Diane Higgins’ theme for 2026, ‘Better Together’, highlighting the power of collaboration, connection and community in supporting women in business.
She said: “These awards are about more than professional success in women. They are about bravery. Every finalist and winner has had the courage to put themselves forward, to share their journey and ask to be counted. That takes confidence and vulnerability - and that deserves to be celebrated. Our winners should be so proud of what they have achieved. I am delighted to accompany them to the national stage later this year.”
Hosted by Esther McCarthy, the ceremony recognised outstanding achievements across categories including Established, Emerging New and Solo Businesswomen, Creative and STEM Professionals and Early Career and Advanced Career Employees.
The President’s Award was also presented to campaigner and founding member of Cork’s Sexual Violence Centre, Mary Crilly. This special award acknowledges the work of one exceptional individual outside of Network Cork who embodies the spirit of the network and who has inspired other members.
Diane Higgins said it was an honour to present the President’s Award to Mary. “The president’s award each year is given to someone outside of the organisation who embodies the values of Network Ireland- leading, supporting and collaborating. I chose Mary Crilly on the year of her retirement this August to acknowledge the work she has done for women within our community for the last 43 years.
“Mary is a leading light who has paved the way for change in the lives of thousands of women in Cork and across the country through the center, as well as her awareness campaigns and her lobbying work on legislative reform.”
Network Ireland Cork Vice President and Awards Coordinator, Dr Siobhán Lucey said:” I am thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of this year’s winners.
“Being recipients of these awards reflects their innovation, leadership and resilience; it also represents a celebration of their business journey through what at times can be challenging and complex environments. Heartfelt congratulations to all the winners on this well-earned recognition.”
The winners
The winners in each category were determined by the judging panel made up of a panel of business experts. These were Helen Murphy, Export Business Advisor at LEO Cork City, Marguerite O'Donovan, Branch Manager at AIB Blackpool, and Caroline O’Driscoll, Partner, Tax & Legal at Deloitte.
Emerging New Businesswoman - Dawn Holton, Holton Homes and Properties
Established Businesswoman - Wendy O’ Driscoll, Mitchelsfort Contracting
STEM Professional - Najla Ahmadyar, Zartis
Creative Professional - Nadine Hughes Campbell, Noah’s Adventures
Solo Businesswoman - Louise Kane Buckley, Loula Natural
Early Career Employee - Ciara O’Connell, SolarHill Energy
Advanced Career Employee - Laura Howard, Trinny London
Networker of the Year - Ciara Crossan, Wedding Dates
The following finalists received the Highly Commended accolade in the following categories:
Solo Businesswoman - Gillian McGrath, Change, Grow, Succeed
Advanced Career Employee - Stephanie O’Flanagan, DePuy Synthes (J&J MedTech)
STEM Professional: - Megan Geaney, DePuy Synthes (J&J MedTech)
The winners of each category will now go on to represent Cork at the National Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards later this year.