Longford woman made President of Network Ireland Roscommon Branch

Clare Frances, originally from Ballymahon in Longford, has taken over the role of President of the Network Ireland Roscommon branch for 2025.

She is a photographer, she has been for over 15 years and business is booming with customers coming from all across the midlands.

Having started out doing wedding photography, Clare has come a long way in her fifteen years of business.

“I’m a Longford woman, but I’ve been in Network Ireland Roscommon for years.

“But, just because it’s called Network Ireland Roscommon doesn’t mean that only Roscommon people are allowed."

Clare herself is proof of that, she has been a member of Network Ireland Roscommon for just over eight years. Aside from Longford and Roscommon, the branch also has members from Westmeath and Leitrim.As President she will be overseeing the upcoming International Womens day event hosted by Network Ireland Roscommon which will be taking on March 7.

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The day will feature a talk from Dr Lubna Alghazal who owns a Periodontics clinic in Longford.

“She has an amazing story to tell, that’s why I chose her as a speaker, even though she’s not actually a member of Network Ireland.

“She left Libya, she had to because of the war, she then finished her dentistry degree here.

“She also got a PhD here and then the oppurtunity came for her to open up a business here in Longford,” she explains, “As well I’m about bringing in, not just Irish women but other nationalities as well.”

Clare hopes to make diversifying Network Irelands Roscommon branch a huge part of her presidency. For her, it’s more important than ever especially in today’s political climate.

It is also a factor that hits close to home for her herlsef. Her husband is Moroccan and her children Moroccan and Irish.

“It’s great that there is multiple communities being represented in Networks Ireland.

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“We are 100% about diversity,” she says, and raises another point she wanted to make clear, “Employees are welcome to be members, as well as business owners.”

“We’re trying to get that message out there it’s not just business owners.”

For international Women’s Day Clare wants to make sure that young girls across the county get the chance to see women in business and ask them questions and get ideas for how they want their futures to look.

“I want to invite TY students from Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, and Leitrim to come to the event, I would like those young women to attend International Women’s day so they understand what is the power behind women supporting women.”

Clare has a real love for organisations like Networks Ireland as she has experience starting a business completely on her own.

She started off photographing weddings which built her a strong clientele in Longford, as well as doing freelance PR videos.

Fifteen years on she has expanded her clientele to Longford, all the surrounding counties and parts of the West such as Mayo.

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“I joined Network Ireland four or five years ago and I was vice president last year, I was invited by the members and it was a yes-no scenario.”

“I just took it because I wanted to be able to help the women in the group and I also want to grow the Network far and beyond borders.

“I’m no believer of borders, I just think we should all collaborate and I think that’s why the network is so good because there’s energy from all different counties in it,” she concluded.