The women of Ireland have proven themselves on the global stage to be incredibly forward-thinking and entrepreneurial. From owners of renowned and successful businesses to CEOs of global corporations, these women have shown themselves to be formidable forces.
Throughout generations, the women of Ireland have shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. Never shying away from a challenge, they continually achieve over and above what it is believed they’re capable of.
From fierce warriors of yonder years to modern businesswomen, you can look throughout history and discover thousands of Irish women who have achieved incredible things.
Want to feel inspired? Here are just ten of the most successful Irish female entrepreneurs that you need to know about.
- The women of Ireland have proven themselves on the global stage to be incredibly forward-thinking and entrepreneurial. From owners of renowned and successful businesses to CEOs of global corporations, these women have shown themselves to be formidable forces.
- 10. Mary Ann O’Brien – founder of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates
- 9. Orla Kiely – an incredibly creative designer
- 8. Roz Purcell – from Miss Universe to business owner
- 7. Ramona Nicholas – a successful Irish pharmacist and dragon
- 6. Martha Kearns – journalist and founder of StoryLab
- 5. Caroline Keeling – one of the most successful Irish female entrepreneurs
- 4. Eimer Hannon – making travel more accessible
- 3. Izzy and Ailbhe Keane – two inspiring sisters
- 2. Lisa and Vanessa Creaven – innovators in oral health care
- 1. Darina Allen – an incredible Irish cook
10. Mary Ann O’Brien – founder of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates
An incredible businesswoman and former politician, Mary Ann O’Brien is the founder and CEO of popular Irish chocolatier Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates.
O’Brien founded the business in the early 1990s after recovering from a debilitating illness and discovering her true passion for all things chocolate.
Lily O’Brien’s specialises in premium assorted chocolate gift boxes and has since gone on to win numerous awards for its high quality and taste.
However, Mary Ann didn’t stop there. In 1997, she and her husband, Jonathan Irwin, founded the Jack and Jill Foundation.
This incredible foundation works to provide home health care to severely sick babies and has done much to support both the children and their families.
9. Orla Kiely – an incredibly creative designer
An incredible artist, Orla Kiely is known for her prints and retro-inspired signature patterns. Based in London, she began her career designing hats and has since become hugely successful on the global fashion stage.
Undoubtedly one of the most successful Irish female entrepreneurs, she began her career working with several renowned companies before setting up her own business.
Her patterns are unique and eye-catching, and her designs have been worn by the likes of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kirsten Dunst, and Alexa Chung.
8. Roz Purcell – from Miss Universe to business owner
Rozanna Purcell is perhaps one of the most recognisable names among young women in Ireland, having risen to prominence after she won Miss Universe back in 2010.
Since then, Purcell has achieved many incredible feats, such as several years as a successful model and media personality working on various projects for TV and radio.
She has also founded various businesses of her own, including her Natural Born Feeder, which offers healthy plant-based recipes, and The Hike Life, which specialises in hiking tips and outdoor clothing.
7. Ramona Nicholas – a successful Irish pharmacist and dragon
A qualified pharmacist and acclaimed entrepreneur, Ramona Nicholas is the founder of the successful Cara Group.
Started in 2002, Nicholas opened the pharmacy chain after seeing a gap in the market for a pharmacy that sells luxury goods alongside traditional medicines.
Having seen tremendous growth in recent years, the Cara Group now has an annual turnover of over €25 million. Alongside the Cara Group, Nicholas is also well-known as one of the ‘dragons’ in Ireland’s Dragons’ Den.
6. Martha Kearns – journalist and founder of StoryLab
Beginning her career as a journalist at Independent News and Media in 1996, Martha Kearns has had an incredibly successful career that has seen her reporting on many huge events, such as the financial crash of 2008.
Today, she is best known as the founder of StoryLab, a successful content and PR agency based in Sligo. First set up in 2014, Kearns offers various services to businesses struggling to make themselves visible in the media.
5. Caroline Keeling – one of the most successful Irish female entrepreneurs
Everyone in Ireland will recognise the Keeling name. A family-owned Irish fruit producer founded in the 1920s, Caroline took the reigns of the family business and made it one of the most successful in Ireland.
She is also an ambassador for The Women’s Fund for Ireland and a board member of Bord Bia. She is passionate about female entrepreneurship and women’s involvement in business, making her one of the most inspiring Irish women right now.
4. Eimer Hannon – making travel more accessible
Eimer Hannon’s passion for travel began when she joined the national student travel agency USIT at University College Dublin. With an ambition to be in business, she founded Hannon Travel in 1999 to offer a highly personalised service in the corporate travel sector.
The business has proven to be incredibly successful, having grown from a small local travel provider to an international name that is continuing to grow.
3. Izzy and Ailbhe Keane – two inspiring sisters
Izzy and Ailbhe Keane are two sisters from Dublin who founded the award-winning Izzy Wheels back in 2016. This innovative company offers vibrant and beautiful wheel covers and spokeguards for wheelchairs.
The company has won numerous awards, and the sisters have been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List. Thus showing their entrepreneurial spirit and inventive nature.
2. Lisa and Vanessa Creaven – innovators in oral health care
Founders of the hugely successful Spotlight Oral Care, Lisa and Vanessa Creaven are two Irish dentists who have made their mark on the oral healthcare scene.
Founded in 2016 with the goal to create safe and effective oral health and beauty products, they make sure to use only the best ingredients in all their products keeping people and the planet at the forefront of their business.
1. Darina Allen – an incredible Irish cook
Topping our list of successful Irish female entrepreneurs is Darina Allen, founder of the iconic Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork.
A passionate chef, author, and television presenter, Allen is one of the most successful Irish female entrepreneurs who has brought Irish cooking to the masses, sharing recipes and hosting events that showcase the finest local produce and cooking techniques.
An inspiring lady, we highly recommend adding a visit to Ballymaloe Cookery School to your Cork bucket list. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of one of her cookbooks to learn the recipes for yourself.
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