Ellen Tuffy, Network Ireland Limerick member and chairperson of Down Syndrome Limerick, was announced as the winner of the Power Within Businesswoman of the Year at a gala awards ceremony in Galway on Friday night.
As a member of Network Ireland Limerick, Ellen was put forward as a finalist having won at the regional businesswoman of the year awards in Limerick last May. Ellen beat off stiff competition from 12 other finalists in the Power Within category which was sponsored by Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy.
Ellen Tuffy is the Chairperson of Down Syndrome Limerick. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare but has spent the last 3 years working voluntarily for the charity. Ellen is an advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome to ensure their needs are met and to ensure their full inclusion in society.
This year saw a record number of entries for the awards from Network Ireland’s 15 branches across the country.
There were eight award winners announced on the evening:
Solo Businesswoman - Asumpta Gallagher, Best Practice, Galway
Emerging Businesswoman - Síne Dunne, Siest Sleep Ltd, Dublin
Established Businesswoman - Sandra Looney, To Have and To Hold, Cork
Employee Rising Star - Aoife Behan, The Montenotte Hotel, Cork
Employee Shining Star - Lorraine Burnell, Joseph Murphy Ballina Ltd, Mayo
Creative Professional - Tanya Ryan, Fiadh and Finn, Kildare
STEM - Yvonne Comer, RugbySmarts, Galway
Power Within Champion - Ellen Tuffy, Down Syndrome Limerick, Limerick
There was a strong Limerick contingent supporting Ellen and the other three finalists representing the Limerick Branch. Marese Coakley (Glasshouse Opticians), Anna Maria Courtney (DCLA Ireland), Monica Forde (Sinnott Training & Certification) and Eve Stafford (Singer) were among the women competing for national recognition.
Emma Wilson, President of Network Ireland Limerick, said “We are thrilled for Ellen. It’s great to see our members being rewarded for their extraordinary achievements. I would also like to congratulate our other finalists for stepping up and putting themselves out there. This is the second year in a row we’ve brought home a national award. This is an incredible testament to the success of the Limerick branch and local businesswomen.”
More than 400 delegates attended the Network Ireland National Conference and Awards Ceremony on Friday 7th October. The conference was hosted by TV presenter Mary Kennedy and is one of the biggest of its kind in Ireland for professional women.
Network Ireland is Ireland’s longest established and leading female focussed business network. The conference and awards took place at the Salthill Bay Hotel, Galway.
