Mayo Ideas Month 2026 is launched
Pictured at the launch of Mayo Ideas Month 2026 at Ballinrobe Racecourse were, back row, from left: John Magee (LEO Mayo), Ailish McCormack (WestBIC), Nicola Kennedy (LEO Mayo), Seamus McCormack (WestBIC), Francis Conroy (MSLETB), Seán O’Coisdealbha (Údarás na Gaeltachta) Front row: Joanne Grehan (Director of Services, Mayo County Council), Maria Staunton (ATU), Margaret Charleton (Enterprise Ireland), Sabina Trench (SWMDC). Picture: Robert Justynski
Mayo’s flagship business support series, Mayo Ideas Month, launched their 2026 programme at Balllinrobe Racecourse, location of the well established Meet Mayo business networking event.
Over four weeks, Mayo Ideas Month presents a series of idea generation, entrepreneurship and business events hosted by the enterprise development agencies and organisations in County Mayo.
Topical, practical and relevant events take place around the county addressing core challenges and business fundamentals relevant to organisations of all sizes. Each one has high quality and interesting speakers.
“This is an impressive programme of events for Mayo Ideas Month 2026, carefully curated to match the needs of businesses of different sizes and at different stages of development”, said John Magee, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Mayo. “Each is relevant, timely and presented by experts in the field. I urge every business owner in Mayo to check the programme and reserve their place today."
Some key events are:
A full day event on Friday, October 9th, entitled 'Mayo Impact – Connect, Market, Increase Income'. It is a practical and engaging event designed to help social enterprises grow their impact and financial sustainability.
On Wednesday, October 14, 'The Confidence to Grow' tackles the challenging topic of self-doubt among entrepreneurs in a lunchtime event at Foxford Woollen Mills. The next day, Thursday, October 15, begins the two-day West x West tech, venture and cultural festival in The Royal Theatre Castlebar.
'Building Skills Capability in SMEs' is the topic for a morning workshop in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Wednesday, October 21.
Booking is open for businesses keen to secure their spot at Meet Mayo, the dynamic networking event and business expo at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Friday, October 23.
On Wednesday, October 28, 'Pathway to Innovate's Data2Sustain Lunch & Learn' takes place in The Leeson Centre in Westport at 12 noon.
Mayo Ideas Month concludes on Friday, November 6, with the gala Mayo Business Awards which this year takes place in the Erris Coast Hotel in Geesala.
The events are carefully planned to help businesses at all different life stages from start-ups to scaling mature enterprises. Business owners and managers are encouraged to check out the programme and register through the website www.mayoideasmonth.ie.
Mayo Ideas Month is organised by hosted by enterprise development agencies and organisations in County Mayo: LEO Mayo, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, WestBIC, ATU iHub Mayo, South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo North East Leader Partnership, MSLETB, Western Development and Regional Skills West.
Mayo Ideas Month takes place from October 7 to November 6, 2026. Full details for all events are available on the website. Follow Mayo Ideas Month on social media.
