Mayo well represented at Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards
Network Ireland Mayo Branch President Orla Bakeberg with the Mayo finalists and Awards Coordinator at the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 in Galway. From left: Lorraine Hall, Ellen Keegan, Olaide Anjorin, Orla Bakeberg, Maureen McAndrew, Cora Mulroy, Carmel Hughes and Sandra Ganley.
Network Ireland Mayo was proud to be represented by six finalists at the Network Ireland National Conference and Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 in Galway on Friday 18 September.
The Conference was held at Dexcom Stadium and the Awards evening at The Galmont Hotel. Lorraine Hall of The Cleaning Corporation in Castlebar was Highly Commended in the Established Businesswoman category.
Across 17 branches and over 1500 women, this year’s awards drew 600 entries nationwide and 101 finalists. Around 320 people attended the Conference and more than 420 joined the Awards evening.
Throughout the day’s events, speakers shared authentic life stories filled with thoughtfulness and kindness.
Lorraine Hall has been a member of Network Ireland Mayo for over 30 years. She entered the Awards for the first time in 2025 and won the Networker of the Year category, as well as being Highly Commended. This year she entered the Established Businesswoman category for the first time and was recognised at national level for her business and her work.
I have been part of Network Ireland Mayo for over 30 years and it has always been the place where women in business lift each other up. To be recognised at national level for the work we do in The Cleaning Corporation is a real honour and I share it with every member of our branch," said Lorraine.
Behind every finalist was a strong team. Branch Awards Coordinator Cora Mulroy supported applicants and finalists throughout the process and reintroduced finalist interviews for the first time in 10 years, to build confidence. Mentoring from LEO Mayo and Fran Best prepared the Mayo finalists even further ahead of their national interviews at AIB in Dublin.
“The finalist interviews gave our women the chance to practise telling their story out loud. When they walked into their national interviews, they knew their business and they believed in themselves. That is what I am proudest of," said Cora .
Network Ireland Mayo Branch President Orla Bakeberg said every finalist and every applicant is a winner.
“Every one of our women is a winner, just by stepping out to fill in the application and then submitting it. They showed up and they moved up, by believing in their best selves. As Branch President I am incredibly proud to support every member and every woman in business, who turns up each day with her vision and puts one foot in front of the other," said Orla.
Orla also delivered her first Lightning Talk at the Conference titled Be Your Change | The Power of the Possible. She closed with the meaning of the butterfly and the message that it only takes a small group of like-minded people to change the world.
Network Ireland Mayo thanks everyone who supports the branch, including Network Ireland national partner AIB and LEO Mayo, as well as Fran Best and the members who cheered on the finalists every step of the way.
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