The event was organised by the Longford Leader, the Co Enterprise Board and Longford Women's Link and the guests of honour were the Chairperson of the National Women's Council of Ireland, Susan McKay, Financial journalist Jill Kerby and the reigning Rose of Tralee Charmaine Kenny.

Other speakers on the day included Michael Nevin from Longford Co Entreprise Board and Elsie Moxham, Chairperson of Longford Women's Link.

The extremely successful event was opened by Susan McKay who praised Longford Women's Link for their brilliant work locally and the business women who attended the awards.

In her opening speech she said: "I'm really impressed by the range of businesses Longford women are involved in. There are a lot of mediocre men in business and a lot of spectacular women who have to try much harder to get into business. Business may still be a male dominated world but because you are all here today – it's shows a fantastic change."

The keynote speaker was Jill Kerby, financial journalist, who discussed the present economic climate and advised all of the business women to make sure to invest wisely over the next number of years. She then advised them: "Start building an ark for yourselves, for your family, your community and your county.

"Buy gold, reduce your debt and watch your cash flow. The banks won't be in a position to begin issuing capital yet from the NAMA plan....So go around your community and find out who has money. Micro-financing is a source of capital that hasn't been tapped in this country."

She also recommended that business people look to Eastern countries such as China and India for financing as they haven't been hit by the recession to the same extent as Europe and the United States.

Ms Kerby concluded by saying: "This is a packed room full of women who've been able to keep their businesses going – it's time to now baton down the hatches and remember on a positive note that some of the greatest inventions were invented during the Great Depression."

The Rose of Tralee then took to the mike and described her journey from being a high powered management consultant in the UK to entering the ambitious world of entrepreneurship.

She said that every women attending the Longford Women in Business Awards was a true inspiration for her to set up her own business.

"I don't want to be the next Bill Gates or Richard Branson but I'd like to be like any of the women sitting in this room today who are paving their own way through life."

Four women who wowed the judges with their business plans for the future and the stories of the inception of their businesses were then given awards at the ceremony.

The deserved winners were Colette Reynolds of Hair Square, Wendy Knight of Wendy Louise Designs, Claire Egan of Cakes 4 Life and Edel Fallon of Bottle Green Design.

Sheila Reilly, the Editor of the Longford Leader described how Collette Reynolds took the bold step of totally refurbishing her salon in 2006 and how that move has paid off by raising the profile of her salon and earning her several prestigious Schwarzkopf awards along the way.

Ms Reilly then told the enthusiastic audience that Wendy Knight had created her millinery empire from humble beginnings, with just €400 of savings in her bank account.

Claire Egan of Cakes 4 Life was then given her award. Ms Reilly said that the Newtowncashel woman's family run business had gone from strength to strength and now supplies an extensive network of shops.

The final honouree at the event was Edel Fallon of Bottle Green Design. Ms Reilly said that this Newtowncashel based graphic designer produces everything from logos to brochures to books and that the key to her success is her talent for design and her keen business sense.

She also said: "She says that she always wanted to be her own boss and it's evident from the quality of her work that she loves what she does."
This event seemed like the perfect precursor for the National Women's Enterprise Day which will take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel this Thursday and Friday and will no doubt be attended by many Longford business women.