Finalists announced for 2026 Network Cork awards
Pictured at the unveiling of the 2026 judging panel for the 2026 Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards were: Marguerite O’Donovan, Branch Manager, AIB Blackpool; Caroline O’Driscoll, Partner, Tax & Legal, Deloitte; Lady Mayoress, Karen Brennan; Lord Mayor, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy; Diane Higgins, Network Cork President; Dr. Siobhán Lucey, Network Cork Vice President; Sue Nelson of Network Cork, and Helen Murphy, Export Business Advisor, Local Enterprise Office Cork City.
The awards, which take place later this month, aim to celebrate and recognise exceptional women in business in Cork.
Women will be recognised across eight categories, namely: Networker of the Year, Emerging Businesswoman, Solo Businesswoman, Established Businesswoman, Early Career Employee, Advanced Career Employee, Creative Professional, and STEM Professional.
Nationally, Network Ireland will run 17 local branch finals in all, including this event. The winners of these will go forward to represent their branch at a national level.
The judges for this year’s Network Cork awards were announced in recent weeks and include Helen Murphy of LEO Cork City, who are sponsors of the flagship event; Marguerite O’Donovan, Branch Manager at AIB Blackpool; and Caroline O’Driscoll, Partner, Tax & Legal at Deloitte.
Vice President of Network Cork and Awards Coordinator, Dr Siobhán Lucey, said this year’s awards celebrate a record number of finalists.
“Their entries demonstrate the innovation, impact, and resilience occurring across diverse businesses and industries within the Network Cork community.
“For our judges, this means the judging task is no small one. With so many excellent submissions, much careful consideration and robust discussion will be needed to ensure that the selected winners truly represent the best in each category and will serve as outstanding representatives of Network Cork at the Network Ireland National Awards later this year.”
In all, 55 finalists in eight categories have been announced ahead of the awards. Some of these finalists are in the running for awards in more than one category.
The finalists for the Network Ireland Cork branch are:
- Naimh Gaine, Cork ETB
- Louise Kane Buckley, Loula Natural
- Gillian McGrath, Change Grow Succeed
- Ellen Hogan, Keohane Seafoods
- Lina Pavlova, Little Fingerprint Boutique
- Dawn Holton, Holton Homes and Properties
- Nadine Hughes Campbell, Noah’s Adventures
- Candace Davey, Counselling with Candace
- Laura Howard, Trinny London
- Ciara Crossan, Wedding Dates
- Tracy McCarthy, Naturally Balanced
- Elaine Duggan, See Her Elected
- Lucy Marshman, The Paw Print Bakery
- Dawn Holton, Holton Homes and Properties
- Candace Davey, Counselling with Candace
- Roisin Corr, The Elephant in the Room Gifts
- Charlotte Glendon, Balance Acupuncture
- Daniela Alves, Nutrifika
- Amelia McNamara, Graceful Accounting
- Sharlene Daly, Hot Pilates
- Lina Pavlova, Little Fingerprint Boutique
- Gillian McGrath, Change Grow Succeed
- Mandie Wheeler, Optimal Operations
- Louise Kane Buckley, Loula Natural
- Claire O’Brien, Honest and Goodness Nutrition
- Orna Connolly, Solas Síoraí Therapy
- Catherine Good, The Good Dairy Company
- Stef McSherry, Kinderama/Irish Fairy Tails
- Wendy O’Driscoll, Mitchelsfort Contracting
- Emma O’Shea, Gingerbread House
- Johanna Murphy, Johanna Murphy & Sons
- Ellen Hogan, Keohane Seafoods
- Ciara O’Connell, SolarHill Energy
- Chani Anderson, Irish Examiner
- Niamh Gaine, Cork ETB
- Pamela Hitimana, Dell Technologies
- Laura Howard, Trinny London
- Najla Ahmadyar, Zartis
- Stephanie O’Flanagan, DePuy Synthes (J&J MedTech)
- Elaine Duggan, See Her Elected
- Victoria Curtis, Cork Opera House
- Laura Noonan, Cork Opera House
- Kara O’Donnell, East Cork Nutrition / Kara O Donnell Wellness
- Gene Cashman, Village Vets
- Najla Ahmadyar, Zartis
- Megan Geaney, DePuy Synthes (J&J MedTech)
- Joleen Cronin, Joleen Cronin
- Maura Mackey, Maura Mackey Design
- Erin Geraghty, Nature Connection Cork
- Nadine Hughes Campbell, Noah’s Adventures
- Emma McCarthy, Gerard McCarthy Photography
- Chani Anderson, Irish Examiner
- Emma Jacobs, Emma Jacobs Art
- Anna O’Leary, The Flour Patch
- Fiona Kennedy, Fiona Kennedy Music
The Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards - in partnership with AIB and sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Cork City will take place at the Kingsley Hotel on May 16.
Former president of Network Cork, Cathy Fitzgibbon, with then National President of Network Ireland, Amy O’Sullivan and then Vice President of Network Cork, Diane Higgins, pictured with the 2025 Network Cork award winners; Enrika Moore, Viska Systems; Therese Deane, MACOM; Sophie Murphy, Johnson & Johnson MedTech; Gwen Perroud, Cameron Bakery; Tracy McCarthy, Naturally Balanced Wellness; Deidre O’Grady, AbilityWise; Sue Nelson, Sue Nelson Design; Caitríona Twomey, Penny Dinners, Winner of the President’s Award and Marilyn Reidy, Kneat Solutions. e.
Tickets are €109 for Network Ireland members and €125 for non-members.
Meanwhile, the Network Ireland West Cork Businesswoman of the Year awards take place on Thursday, May 21 at Dunmore House Hotel in Clonakilty.
Tickets are priced from €65 for members and non-members while finalist tickets are priced at €30.
See: https://networkireland.ie/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2056818&group=
App?
