VIP Publishing is delighted to announce that the eir Power of Women Awards are back.
These awards celebrate the best and brightest female entrepreneurs in Ireland, across the worlds of fashion, technology, beauty, lifestyle, wellness and more!
The winners, decided by an expert panel and awarded at an exclusive lunch in Dublin’s Marker Hotel on November 18th, will be profiled in the December issue of VIP Magazine.
The Wellness Award sponsored by AYA celebrates the women whose businesses focus on our mental, physical and emotional health. Here’s a bit more information about our incredible nominees…
Denise Kenny Byrne – The Head Plan
This entrepreneur turned adversity into opportunity, when a few days after her honeymoon her new husband, Ciaran, was diagnosed with life-threatening leukaemia.
To support herself, Denise started minding herself, initially by journaling, and so the seed of a new business idea was sown. The Head Plan, which was founded to help others become the best version of themselves, is more than their products, it’s a movement.
But, to be part of the movement you want to invest in their products (Gratitude Journals, Finance Journals, Mirror Markers, The Mantra Cards with Roxie Nafousi etc)! Now isn’t that a smart business move?!
Derval O’Rourke – derval.ie
Three-time Olympian and former world champion O’Rourke’s online platform is both an online training, nutrition and support network, helping time-poor clients train to a high level and eat like an athlete, all the while offering a community of supporters and fellow members.
There are various membership options, but all offer access to hundreds of recipes, monthly challenges, live events and peer and expert support.
Emma Buckley – GourmetFuel
Buckley is the Director of Nutrition and Co-Founder of GourmetFuel, a company that makes healthy meals designed by qualified nutritionists, prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered anywhere in Ireland.
GourmetFuel is, in fact, Ireland’s No.1 healthy meal delivery service.
Started by siblings Emma and Rob in 2014, the company is now planning for significant growth by adding 40 jobs across food production, science, nutrition and technology, bringing its total number employed to more than 100.
Jane Deasy – Trendy and Bendy
Ballinasloe native Jane Deasy, a former fashion buyer for Brown Thomas, launched Trendy and Bendy four years ago, selling first high-end leggings and then hoodies.
Designed by Jane herself and produced with the company’s own unique fabric composition (T&B Trendexfabric) using sustainable materials, they have since expanded the collection to include premium tanks and outdoor jackets.
“Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten,” said Aldo Gucci, said Jane.
Kathryn Thomas – Pure Results
Can you believe that Kathryn Thomas has been running her health and fitness boot camp business, Pure Results, for nearly ten years now? Honestly, what is time?
Today, Pure Results, remains the gold standard of boot camps. During the pandemic, she took her programmes online and from that grew an online community that post-pandemic still demands, featuring online workshops and healthy meal plans.
But the retreats are also back. We’re currently eyeing up one running soon at an exclusive villain Montinhos Da Luz, in Portugal!
Peigin Crowley – Ground Wellbeing
This Cork entrepreneur built her well-being brand from the GROUND up! And it all started at her kitchen table at the start of the pandemic.
A self-care brand of balms and oils and salts, they are all handmade in Ireland and are vegan and cruelty-free, use natural and organic ingredients and are designed to support calming rituals — we LOVE them.
Having stood at the forefront of the wellness evolution in Ireland for the majority of her career, Peigin was inspired to build a sustainable and simpler life, one that honoured nature and promoted balance and connection. Ground does that — beautifully.
Kylie O’Donoghue – FemFuelz
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will,” says Kylie O’Donoghue.
Indeed, it was this that fuelled her desire, after years of being dismissed, to create a female-specific supplement, which provided only the most premium products.
In 2018 FemFuelz was born and over the next two years, Kylie worked alongside her brother William (and nutritionists, medical experts, researchers and strength and conditioning coaches) to produce a range like no other. Today her vision spans from protein to clothing, to pre-workout probiotics, to delicious pancake mixes. Yum!
Roz Purcell – The Hike Life
A brand with sustainability and community at its core, Roz Purcell’sThe Hike Life (THL) grew organically from her desire to build and grow a free hiking community.
Their very first item, the THL hat, was developed to fund the hikes and pay for mountain guides. It also brought colour to the hills!
Since this project began baselayers, tees and sweatshirts have been added to their collection. Roz has also added a forest to her investments! “I’m going to live in a treehouse when I’m older,” she told us.
