Auntie Katie’s
Best Women Led Business
Sponsored by
Auntie Katie’s childcare is a game changer for the wedding scene. She has blended her child-minding expertise with the wedding industry to create a unique service; wedding childcare! Auntie Katie and her team of 8 are well on the way to becoming a wedding staple. They work in the background to ensure the big day can be enjoyed without a worry! From 5 weeks to 11 years old, no matter what their needs, their team have it covered. The business only started in 2021, but as of September 2024, they’ve worked 150 weddings this year alone; that’s a wedding almost every second day!
All hands are on deck; Boss Katie and Manager Clodagh work at weddings while also keeping the ship running smoothly.
It’s not just keeping kids entertained; they cover all aspects
of the children’s care. Their online presence speaks volumes with endless photos of happy kids and 185+ reviews from satisfied customers.
As they grow, the team would like to see the service go international, and with the enthusiasm they bring to every wedding, they’re a dream come true in the wedding and childcare sector.
But who IS Auntie Katie?
Katie Lawlor worked in childcare and as a social worker, but it was while caring for children, she received questions surrounding wedding childcare; and the service was born!
It’s an area in which she has been excelling; she has been nominated for everything from supplier of the year to entertainer of the year in her sector, and in 2024, took home the Childcare Entertainment of the Year award from Weddings Online.
auntiekatie_weddingbabysitting
087 689 9062
auntiekatiesweddings@gmail.com
“I am absolutely delighted to be nominated for an award again this year. It is so lovely for a small business such as mine to be acknowledged and appreciated because sometimes I feel they can be overlooked in comparison to the big companies.”
Auntie Katie herself - Katie Lawlor - with their award for Children’s Entertainer of the Year
Mary O’Sullivan O’Keeffe grew up in Newmarket, and in 2007, she re-purposed her childhood home into a dual purpose; their family home and her business Beginners Corner Montessori. Here, they care for 25-30 children from 2 and a half years to school going age, as well as a free pre-school service for eligible children. The business offers both the ECCE and NCS government childcare programmes.
From the get go, Mary wanted it to be an intimate space, somewhere loving and fun, but with high quality care.
Remaining a small business has allowed Mary and her team to build very strong relationships with the families they meet.
The team ensure each and every child that passes through their care is spoken to with love and affection at all times and a sense of self worth and belonging is promoted amongst the children.
Montessori focuses on allowing choice to stimulate children’s needs. This leads to exercises that are fun but engage their understanding of shapes, nature, exploration, building, colouring, and more.
Their outdoor area is ideally suited to Irish weather as it has a covered space as well as a “Nature Hero” winning garden space. The children are encouraged to explore, plant seeds, feed birds, and engage in what the great outdoors has to offer.
Beginners Corner see the responsibility they have as
educators; positive language and reassurance are vital from childcare staff as it is key to children’s growth and well-being. A stand out during the year is their Christmas Charity event. Santa waits in the willow den in their beautifully lit garden with hot chocolate available for visitors; a truly magical addition to an already beautiful space.
Beginners Corner Proprietor Mary O' Sullivan O' Keeffe
Mikey Guiney
Proprietor Mary O’ Sullivan O’ Keeffe with Staff members Liz O’ Riordan Theresa O’ Sullivan and Anna Lynch
Best Women Led Business
Sponsored by IRD Duhallow
Skillnet
Business is about adaptation and growth.
Kathleen White started with three pregnant female alpacas from a top breeder in Northern Ireland brought to Kilcorney. The original plan was to breed and sell them, but their charm took over. With this, the scope changed. Kathleen has always loved Alpaca’s and her passion for them turned into a wish to breed her own and understand them better.
Three years on and while sales are still on the cards, Kathleen’s
Baby Alpacas Copper, Skylark, Willow Tammy and Melody
Family
customer base ranges from educational establishments, corporate business, private clients, and event organisers.
As her business and herd grows, Kathleen has all manner of ideas for the future, including many more on site experiences. While the draw of feeding and petting alpacas is always a winner, educational talks and therapy sessions are just as important to Kathleen.
With an expanded breeding programme, Duhallow could see a further benefit to other would-be alpaca farmers.
Unlike others, Kathleen brings the Alpacas to you! Her crew have met people all over Duhallow and beyond, and everywhere they go, they bring unmatched happiness. She has brought her alpacas to
nursing homes and community settings, and is a member of the IRD Duhallow Social Farming scheme, on which she is the only alpaca farm.
This work is fuelled by sheer adoration. Kathleen is a fountain of knowledge,and she wishes to bring it to everyone.
FineOaks
fineoaks_alpacas
087 3562598
Alpacas@fineoaks.ie fineoaks.ie
“I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to be nominated. Receiving the news was a delightful surprise, and making it to the short-list fills me with excitement and pride. For me, it’s not just about winning—it’s about the recognition and appreciation of my business within the community, which means so much. I am incredibly grateful to the community, my friends, and family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without each and every one of you. Thank you!”
The White
Community Enterprise
Sponsored by
Whether it’s a day session for your three month old or an afterschool session for up to 14 year olds, Cairdeas Childcare is available 49 weeks of the year. In 2006, the local national school saw a need for a childcare and preschool for the area.
The voluntary board of directors have a wide range of expertise from finance, health and safety, education, and HR. From day one, social inclusion, equal opportunity, and affordable childcare have been the vision of Cairdeas Childcare. Since opening, the service has grown and improved consistently, and they are always eager to upgrade. The facility boasts an in house
chef who prepares fresh home cooked meals daily. Manager Cathy Lonergan leads her 28 staff with the primary goal of ensuring the children’s health and well-being needs are met while also supporting the professional development and training of the staff. Their rooms are impressive; together their babies, wobbler’s, toddlers, and pre-school cater for up to 64 children. Just this year, their services expanded to open an additional School Age service in Ballyhass National School, which caters for up to 24 children during the school term.
Julian, Faye and
support the growth of the school, and vice versa. This is key in retaining families in the area. This school relationship has also made it easier than ever for children to make the transition to the national school.
They understand that flexibility is vital for such a service and they aim to accommodate needs as they change for any reason. Through their relationship with Ballyhass NS, they
“We
Cairdeas Childcare Manager Cathy Lonergan and staff member Maria with Sophie, Diarmaid, Finn, Ellie, Hannah and Cian in the Toddler Room
Staff member Barbara with Avyaan, Roman, Cuan and Niamh in the Wobblers Room
Theo, Teddy,
Chloe in the Pre School Room
A home away from home; that is what Banteer Community Childcare services aim to be. The service opened in 2007, and is made up of a board of directors from a variety of backgrounds and 40 employees.
Banteer Community Childcare Services cater to families with ever changing schedules and commitments. Parents have peace of mind that their children are in a safe and happy environment where they are given the best possible start in life.
The facility is ideally located close
to the school, and can cater to 140 children at any one time.
The staff are led by manager Mary Murphy, and they are dedicated to creating an environment that is perfect for both their colleagues and the children they care for. Emphasis is placed on upskilling and training, and they are encouraged to upskill and further educate themselves.
The facility was opened with the support of €1.3million grant aid, and since then a further €500k has been invested
“We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated. It has created a great buzz here around the centre amongst the team. It’s heart-warming for the team here to know what we do here is appreciated and can be celebrated. We have a premium team of early years professionals and we love what we do, ensuring children are growing, learning and most of all happy. It’s a lovely environment to be in every day and we are very proud of our service. We are looking forward to a lovely night shared with tough competition and many other fantastic local businesses” Best Community Enterprise Sponsored by
in the facility. These include a purpose built sensory room and sensory garden, which is of huge benefit for children with additional needs.
Mary Murphy, Manager.
Children in the Fuchsia Room
Manager Mary Murphy with Lead Educators Rachel Carroll, Katie Mulvihill, Rachel Jones, Ellen Murphy, Aisling Magner and Niamh O’ Mahony at Banteer Community Childcare
Best Community Enterprise
Sponsored by
Established in 1994, Duhallow Community Food Services (DCFS) has been providing essential services including a subsidised meal service to those that are not able to cook for themselves and may be isolated because of age, illness, lack of transport or other disadvantages that result from living in a rural area.
Currently delivering upwards of 39,000 meals per year, the service is a lifeline for many with the Meals On Wheels delivery drivers doing their part in combating isolation and loneliness. DCFS can also help by referring their clients to
other services on offer at IRD Duhallow, such as the community laundry, Warmer Homes Initiative and the many other essential services on offer to those in need in the region. Clients also have the option to avail of the meal service on site at the DCFS Restaurant, located in Newmarket. This provides a social outlet and meeting place for them as well as being open for people living and working locally.
Other services on offer include a bakery, school and crèche catering services, outside and event catering services, BBQ, and more recently, primary school meals for up to 1600 children per day in the vicinity.
The team in DCFS are led by manager Linda O’Connor. With a staff of 55, they provide a warm welcome, delicious, wholesome food and service to the people of Duhallow. The enterprise is also fortunate to have staff from CE, Tús, and RSS programmes who can avail of the opportunity to develop skills and experience in areas such as baking, cooking, customer service and office administration.
duhallowcommunityfoodservices
duhallowcommunityfoodservices
(029) 76375
info@duhallowfoodservices.ie
duhallowfoodservices.ie
“We are really pleased to be nominated for an award, it is a wonderful boost for our team to get recognition for their hard work and contribution”
Manager Linda O’Connor
Joanne O’Connor and Aidan Creedon of the Driving Team
Ruth O’Sullivan, Marina Pavlova, and Olga Voichuk are up early to get the baked goods ready every morning
Allenweld has almost 150 years experience and it is still going strong. Founded in 1875, Allenweld started out as blacksmiths and evolved into the welding sector, providing high quality custom steel fabrication. The original client base was focused on the agricultural and equine sectors, and over time, this has expanded to include industrial fabrication services.
Innovation is at the core of their work. Their 9 employees combine extensive experience and advanced 3D modelling to produce bespoke designs to exact customer specification. Their market covers both Ireland and the
UK, and this work is anything from structural steelwork to hand rails and gates. As an ever evolving business in a dynamic market, Allenweld seek to constantly diversify and expand, but while maintaining their hard earned reputation.
Sustainability is to the forefront of their strategic plans which encompasses the purchase of new equipment and facility upgrades which implement eco friendly production methods while managing their ability to meet rising demand for larger scale projects.
With an enhanced digital presence, Allenweld aim to draw on an even wider range of customers while showcasing
their impressive work. Their personalised approach combined with their vast experience makes them a strong contender in the sector.
Their experience of working with those within the Equine and Agri sectors has given them an unmatched wealth of knowledge that expands beyond their Newmarket base. “We
Billy, Tess, Richard are just a part of the impressive Allenweld team
One of their finished stable projects
Best Established Business
Sponsored by
Since 2021, Ashgrove Renewables has grown from 16 to 80 highly trained employees with unmatched expertise in renewable energy. Their work includes carrying out full turnkey upgrades including insulation, windows, doors, solar PV, heat pumps, grant administration support, and more. This includes work as contractors for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland who provide eco-friendly upgrades.
Since they were established in 2001, they have seen massive growth, particularly in recent years. Their services expanded from being aimed at homeowners, landlords, contractors and others, and in the space of 30 months, they went from working on zero to 550 houses per year. In addition to their SEAI services, they provide design and installation services for developers and new-build homeowners.
Despite their evolution into the
renewable market, one thing has been key from day one; science and fairness. Their products and delivery are based entirely on expertise. This is paired with fairness in all dealings.
A stand-out feature for Ashgrove is their 50% female employee base; unusual in the construction and home upgrade industry. As an enterprise they take their social responsibility seriously; they support dozens of clubs and communities each year including a year long partnership with EPS and Badminton Ireland in a drive to get teenage girls playing badminton and learning how to set up and run a club.
Their recent investment in a new office and warehouse facility has allowed them to develop their plans to grow their team even further, and put in place state of the art facilities. These include show rooms, virtual meeting spaces,
“We at Ashgrove Renewables are honoured to be nominated in the Best Established Business category. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion, and collective effort of our team. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our clients and professional partners who have trusted us to deliver exceptional quality and care across thousands of projects throughout the last 23 years in business.”
virtual employee training, a range of initiatives and incentives aimed at retaining top talent.
They work hard to make grants more accessible, and this led to the development of their app, “whatgrant.ie”. This aims to demystify the grant process for home owners and professionals alike, and adds to their already impressive repertoire.
Tracey Davis Crowley, Cormac Murphy, Shane Murphy Tracey Breen. Back - Donal O’Sullivan, Tony McAuliffe, Sarah O'Sullivan, Rory Browne
Donal Gayer
Shane Murphy – Sales & Marketing Director, Cormac Murphy – Operations Director
Business Support Team on calls
Best Established Business
Sponsored by
In 1989, Dr Bertie Daly, and Dr Zelie Gaffney Daly saw a need for a local GP service.
Their original premises was ready in 1991, and after further sustained effort, the Newmarket primary care centre was built. This space includes a variety of healthcare facilities, and is ever expanding to provide the best care for the community needs.
They are proud of Newmarket - so much so they display the work of talented artists and photographers in their building. This love for the
area ties into the importance of retaining the population. They acknowledge the area has a large elderly population and they prioritise quality of life.
A point of pride for all 16 employees is the accompaniment of generations of families through their health journey.
It is in this they see the importance of sustaining the rural GP service and ensuring what they offer is appropriate for the area.
So far, they’ve grown consistently in tandem with the area’s requirements, and just this year opened their sensory garden, Áit Aoibheann for all in the locality. Their dedication during the peak of the COVID Pandemic was to deliver services in a way that ensured the community felt safe and supported.
Their extensive services list covers everything from
“The Primary Care Centre opened its doors during the peak of the COVID epidemic, in 2020, and has endured, and survived, a lot of challenges. There are further developments in 2024 of a Therapeutic Gym and further medical consultation facilities. Every member of our team is honoured, and humbled, to have the acknowledgement, and the recognition of our endeavours, which this nomination brings.”
consultation and blood tests to minor surgery and a mother and baby scheme, all carried out with modern equipment.
All on one campus, there are General Practice Services with HSE Mental Health Team, Public Health Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Community Services, a Private Physiotherapy Service, Audiology, Ophthalmology, and further outreach services.
Áth-Trasna-Medical-Centre
info@athtrasnamc.com
029 60636 athtrasnamc.com
Nurse Kathleen Mullane, Nurse Mairead Daly, Dr. Bertie Daly, Elaine O’ Regan, Practice Manager, Dr. Orna Daly, Dr. Zelie Gaffney Daly, Dr. Bronagh McCann and Sheila Collins, Receptionist
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In 2002, Teach Altra opened its doors, and in 2019, it became part of the Evergreen Care Group. This nursing home boasts remarkable individualised care for up to 42 residents. Common areas and private rooms are comfortable and cosy, with wall mounted televisions and en-suites, and their beautiful balcony space allows for views of Newmarket. Their Oratory features beautiful wooden furniture and stained glass, and provides a comfortable, soothing space throughout the day. Outside there is a well kept space to be enjoyed by residents, with a sensory garden with herbs, lights, and wind-chimes. Each patient is given the utmost care including specialised care for memory related conditions, chronic disease management, geriatric care, and end of life care.
evergreencare.ie/ teach-altra-nursing-home-newmarket/ hello@teachaltra.ie Best Established Business
Emotional support is offered to residents and their families, and staff have a fantastic reputation. Custom menus and nutrition plans are all supported with nutritious meals made with local ingredients, with dietary needs and preferences all taken into account. Outings are regularly arranged for residents, with families more than welcome to participate. Teach Altra understands that flexibility is important for residents and they regularly change or extend visiting hours to accommodate families. For employees, there are incredible benefits and opportunities, and a robust volunteer programme has locals offering their time to say the rosary with residents and keeping them company.
The overall quality of life of their residents is a top priority for Teach
“We here at Teach Altra Nursing Home are deeply honoured to be nominated for Best Established Business Award. Being nominated for a business award is not just an honour; it’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone on our team. It inspires us to keep pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and support to our residents. It inspires us to continue fostering a compassionate community where everyone feels valued, and respected.”
Altra. Social engagement, mental stimulation, and purpose are all parts of the exceptional care. The facility is constantly improving with care for the community always in mind. With constant learning and development, their 57 staff and Manager Dana Williams ensure Teach Altra remains a key player in care within the Duhallow area.
teachaltranursinghome
029 61166
Some of the residents at Teach Altra with the team of professionals who care for them
Manager Dana Williams
Best In Creative Industry
Sponsored by
The Dottie and Dora Dream has been going since long before they established in 2022. Pet goats have been a part of Siobhan’s life for 14 years now, and in 2021, she expanded to include a milking breed.
The company consists of husband and wife duo, Siobhán Ring and
Their impressive stock aims to be a skincare staple
Alan Twomey, who operate the business part time alongside their own full time jobs as researchers in the agricultural industry. Experimentation is key; in the beginning, their products included goats milk, cheese, and soap, however, in 2024, they made the decision to focus on soap. This is a more sustainable option, but also a more personal one. As a lifelong eczema sufferer, Siobhan discovered the benefits of goats milk, and this sparked a passion to research and learn in an effort to help others with similar skincare issues. From what started as a personal journey has grown in to a small business using all natural ingredients from their own micro farm. This home grown
“We’re delighted! We’re truly honoured to be recognized for our work. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that our efforts are making an impact in the community, and this nomination is a great boost for our business. We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the support of everyone who has helped us on this journey. We look forward to continuing to grow in the local area! ”
approach speaks to their focus on sustainability as well as trust for their customer base that their products are natural and nourishing.
Their newest product - a lip balm, that customers claim smells good enough to eat - is the next step in their exciting path to become a household skincare name.
dottie.and.dora
dottie.and.dora
089 248 1067
Dottieanddora2022@gmail.com
dottieanddora.ie
Alan and Siobhán with Dottie and Dora
Oscar
Owners Alan Twomey and Siobhán Ring
Best In Creative Industry Sponsored by
Rieleen’s inspirations come from everywhere, including her native home South Africa in her Afraic collection
Dúil is creating some blooming lovely designs! Rieleen Bn Uí Dhuinnín came to Ireland in 2011 initially as an Au Pair from South Africa, and later worked as a Yoga Instructor. Creation was always present, be it during arts and crafts with her children or as therapy for herself. She had considered selling these creations, but self doubt was too big a hurdle.
With COVID, her avenues for teaching ceased, poor internet didn’t allow for online classes, and personal reasons made her take a leap.
Her home in Clondrohid is surrounded by nature, and from here she takes huge inspiration for her pieces. She creates intriguing, colourful pieces, often in small numbers to keep her work bespoke.
She started with earrings, and over time expanded to include broaches, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Each of her collections is inspired by something around her and offer a range of designs; the GAEL collection of big, bright, and bold earrings, to the sleek elegant statement earrings of the Gráinne collection, and her Afraic collection calls back to her roots in South Africa.
There is no machinery in her process; just polymer clay, blades, and imagination.
All of her work is done with sustainability in mind; her packaging is plastic free, and everything is reused or recycled.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that my little business, Dúil, has been nominated for the IRD Duhallow Business Awards. As a small business, it is easy to sometimes get overlooked or at least feel overlooked, so it is a wonderful honour and privilege to be a finalist, no matter the outcome.
The acknowledgement this nomination brings has given me an extra bit of confidence for the busy retail season ahead and I’m looking forward to see what the next few months have in store for me.”
As the business blossoms, Rieleen looks to a future with employees and even more of a variety in her design.
Her creations expanded to include necklaces and more
Rieleen runs the show solo in her online store
Best In Creative Industry Sponsored by
When we think of parties, balloons are a staple, but Kristina Dubrovska sees them as more than that; for her, they can be a centrepiece.
High quality balloon decor is a bespoke art on its own. Since setting up Moon Balloon in Macroom in 2016, she has seen the potential to combine her love of event planning with design. This means a fresh modern approach to decorations, centering around balloons! She saw a way to elevate events themselves and balloons in particular. From birthdays and weddings to office parties and product launches, Kristina and her team deliver innovative and timeless designs for everyone. Backdrops, easel displays, thrones, chairs, lights, cake stands; there’s no limit to the party
Manager Kristina creates balloon masterpieces to suit any event
features they include; their designs go beyond expectation and are fully personalised. They aim to make the experience even better and easier for customers in the future with a stronger online services with an easy design and order process is on the way!
With a team of 4, Moon Balloon take their orders through phone and social media. They utterly transform any space they’re sent to.
With such a unique take in design
“We are incredibly honoured to be nominated for IRD Duhallow’s Business Awards. As a family-run business, this recognition holds a special meaning for us. We believe that representing ourselves as a family business resonates with our community. It’s not just about the products we sell, but the values we share—dedication, trust, and a personal touch in everything we do. Thank you for this wonderful honour”
and stand out creations, their goals of becoming leaders in event decor is close. But becoming leaders won’t change their love for community, and their love for giving back to both community and charity is a something of utmost importance for them. Their displays are more than decoration. They add magic and whimsy, they re-frame how we consider decorations, and with high quality materials, their works stay vibrant and intact through any event.
moonballoonmacroom
moonballoonmacroom
086 874 9345
moonballoonmacroom@gmail.com
Sponsored by
Aisling celebrated hitting 2000 Instagram followers earlier in the year
In 2023, Aisling Buckley started her home based travel agency; Buckley’s Bucket List Travel. This online service takes the stress out of booking holidays; through her myriad offers, under one price you get your flights, accommodation, and luggage, with deposit options available to secure your trip. She takes out the pouring over hotels and flights to make booking holidays as easy as picking up the phone!
Aisling was a stay at home mom, and once her kids started school, she wanted something flexible so she could still be available for them.
She started up with host company InteleTravel when they launched in Ireland; this enabled her to set
helps to create dream holidays and trains others to create them too!
up her own franchise from home while backed and supported by InteleTravel’s 30 years experience. As a travel lover, she knows what a holiday needs. And repeat customers will tell you she gets it right!
She has her own offers but also helps people in planning their dream destination.
The flexibility offered to her in working from home enabled her to extend further as a marketing rep to sell the travel franchise. Through this relationship, she helps others to set up their own travel businesses.
“I’m am honoured to be nominated for such a prestigious award in our locality along with all the other amazing businesses who have been nominated this year and in previous years. I’m totally overwhelmed and grateful for all the support I have received since it was announced. Best of luck to everyone and thank you to everyone involved.” Best Emerging Business
While her bookings are available to Irish residents, her mentoring extends to the UK and the US. She has already helped 7 families start up their travel businesses, and has booked almost €200,000 worth of travel for clients.
Aisling takes the work out of travel
and in an age of endless websites, groups, suggestions, options, and scams, she makes a scary endeavour approachable. She offers a bespoke service to clients. The goal? Creating amazing memories. By handling the finer details, Aisling helps families enjoy a stress free trip at a reasonable cost.
aisling.buckley.142
buckleysbucketlisttravel
0862049085
Buckleysbucketlisttravel@outlook.com
aislingbuckley.inteletravel.com.co
Aisling
Iwona Drawk has more than 30 years experience as a seamstress and dress maker, and saw an opportunity to bring her skills to Main Street, Kanturk. Iwona started her studies in economics, but switched to studying as a seamstress; the love was immediate. In Poland, she had worked within others stores, but in 2022, she decided to take the plunge and open her own sewing business.
The Sewing House aims to be a hub for all things sartorial; the making and altering of wedding, communion and debs dresses.. And it doesn’t stop with clothing; Iwona makes and repairs curtains and blinds, and up-cycles everything from duvets to bags. Anything made of fabric and leather is fair game!
She is a big believer in quality; instead of catering to the fast fashion industry, she aims to ensure her items last years. In time, she hopes to provide bags and purses for regular sale, as well as hoping to employ staff in the future. This will increase
“Being
short-listed as a finalist for the IRD Duhallow Business Awards has been absolutely rewarding! I’m thrilled to see that my 30+ years of experience and hard work have paid off and are getting recognised in the Duhallow region”
turn around of orders, but will also spread her knowledge of sustainable creation and repair in fabric items.
Iwona is extremely motivated and creative, visualising stunning, unique designs, catering for any size, shape, and ability, and doing so with joy that has brought customers back time and time again.
The Sewing House
0852664643
sewinghousebyiwona@gmail.com
Iwona has more than 30 years experience in her field
Emerging Business Sponsored by
Susan Murphy qualified as a personal trainer in April of 2023 and by July, was running her own fitness classes and personal training from her home as Wellness Warrior Coaching.
She is qualified as an Occupational Therapist and worked in the field for ten years before spending 6 years as a stay at home mom.
During that time, Susan felt she lost her identity but exercise was always therapeutic. She understands how overwhelming commercial gyms can be especially for beginners, but through small, intimate, and structured classes and training, she makes exercise achievable. The environment she fosters is one of support and friendship with many clients forming friendships in the classes.
For many of her clients, self esteem and body confidence are massive hurdles but with
“Receiving such heartfelt messages from both current and past clients, as well as individuals outside my regular circle, filled me with pride and emotion. This competition presents a valuable opportunity for personal and business growth, pushing me to articulate the reasons behind my business and its approach, a challenge I welcome with open arms. Win or lose I will walk away feeling proud of myself for getting to the finals and with even more drive to continue to develop my business and help each and every person that comes to me to the best of my ability.”
the space and support, each client leaves feeling great about themselves. Education is Susan’s end goal; the education to form a healthy and sustainable relationship with exercise that lasts a lifetime. This extends to learning new exercises, perhaps one clients never believed they could be capable of!
She hopes to bring even more classes to Kanturk to make them even more accessible. This includes classes for secondary school ages to understand exercise from a young age.
Wellness Warrior Susan Murphy with Class
Michelle and Abagail
Emma and Louise with Susan
