In February, Ireland celebrated its female patron saint, St Brigid, and her legacy of empowering women. Now in March we celebrate the talented women who have built successful businesses that are helping the island of Ireland’s tourism industry to thrive.
Here we feature 13 inspirational women:
The first female skipper: Lorraine McLean: Captain Strangford Lough Ferry
In 2023, Lorraine became the first female skipper of the Strangford Lough ferry which has been running since 1180 between Strangford and Portaferry in County Down. Lorraine had always been interested in the maritime world and studied for a PhD in marine biology at Queen’s University. She joined the ferry crew in 2019 as purser and then trained for three years before achieving her dream.
From rugby player to cottage construction: Caitríona Bergin: Caitríona’s Cottages, Leitrim
Multi-talented Caitríona used her flair for DIY combined with her creative vision to develop three beautiful stone cottages at her farm in County Leitrim. Perfect for a relaxing holiday, the cottages are ideal for those who cherish slow adventure in a gorgeous landscape. A former Leinster rugby player and Head of Women’s Rugby for Ireland, Caitríona is active in promoting and empowering girls and women to take up jobs in construction, engineering and in the quarrying and mining industry.
UK’s youngest Blue Badge guide: Charlene McCrossan: Managing Director McCrossan City Tours
Charlene is a Blue Badge Tourist Guide and took over the running of the award-winning McCrossan City Tours which was founded by her father. The company offers a range of walking tours around Derry~Londonderry including historical tours, food tours and a Derry Girls tour. Private bespoke tours are also offered. McCrossan City Tours has a five-star ranking from Tourism Northern Ireland
Female-orientated surf: Melanie White: Owner Rebelle Surf
Melanie’s love of surfing and nature led her to set up a surf school in Sligo on the Wild Atlantic Way. Originally, she focused on coaching for women, providing innovative surf techniques more suited to women’s bodies combined with ocean and self-awareness, etiquette, tides, rips and safety advice. Now her Rebelle Surf school offers a range of surf experiences, lessons, camps and retreats that are open to everyone and are tailored to the specific needs of the participants in each group.
Women in whiskey: Louise McGuane: Founder J.J. Corry
Louise is an Irish whiskey entrepreneur, who launched her own label – J. J. Corry Irish Whiskey – in 2016. Having worked for global drinks brands around the world, Louise had built up an expertise and decided to delve into the traditional art of whiskey bonding which had been lost in Ireland for 100 years. Now Ireland’s first whiskey bonder in decades, Louise sources casks from around the world, and whiskeys from distilleries all over Ireland, matching one to the other to create her award-winning blends on her farm in County Clare.
Harnessing the power of seaweed: Prannie Rhatigan: Founder Irish Seaweed Kitchen
Growing up in County Sligo on the rugged west coast of Ireland, Prannie learned about the different types of seaweed and their uses in the kitchen and garden. Now a medical doctor, she has extensive experience of harvesting, cooking and gardening organically with sea vegetables, harnessing their nutritional and medicinal benefits. Author of the
Irish Seaweed Kitchen cookbook, Prannie was awarded Special Acknowledgement for her Outstanding Contribution to Irish Food by Euro-Toques. She sells seaweed products, recipe books and guides through her website.
Foraging for good: Mary White: Blackstairs Ecotrails
Mary is a former Green Party Member of the Irish Parliament for Carlow/Kilkenny and former Minister of State for Equality, Human Rights and Integration. She is a linguist, walking guide, forager, and flora and fauna specialist. With her husband and daughter, Mary runs Blackstairs Ecotrails, an award-winning eco-tourism business in the Blackstairs Mountains and the Barrow valley. Her business offers eco-friendly accommodation in shepherds huts and a range of workshops and foraging experiences.
Women’s walking weekends: Eimear Flanagan: Founder Away a Wee Walk
Eimear set up her walking tour company, Away a Wee Walk, in 2013. Based in Belfast, she specialises in walks around County Antrim’s spectacular Causeway Coast and glens. With a degree in Irish history and politics she is passionate about the Irish landscape and the story of Ireland. Eimear manages a team of guides as well as leading walks herself. The company provides three guided day tour options, offers private tours and provides a full package of support for those who want a self-guided, independent walking holiday. This year, Eimear has launched women-only winter walking weekends.
Forestry and farming: Ailbhe Gerrard: Farmer Brookfield Farm
Ailbhe runs Brookfield Farm in County Tipperary, which uses sustainable farming processes to produce artisan food and locally sourced wildflower honey, beeswax candles and minimally processed tender lamb. Ailbhe studied sustainable development in University College London, and organic farming in the Scottish Agricultural College. She won a Nuffield Agricultural Scholarship, and lectures at Gurteen Agricultural College. Ailbhe welcomes visitors to Brookfield Farm for open days to view broadleaf forestry, wildflower meadows, lambs, crops, hives and craft demonstrations.
Wild liquors from the land: Mary Bulfin: Wild Food Mary
Mary is a passionate forager, chef and educator who wants to connect people to their places and heritage through wild food foraging. Based in County Offaly, her Wild Food Mary business offers foraging workshops and also bespoke events for special occasions. She has also created a bank of recipes that use foraged food and produces a range of wild liqueurs including her award-winning Wild Damson Liqueur.
Pottery and jewellery: Clair Jones: Founder Lough Gur Pottery
A former solicitor, Clair followed her dream to be a potter and set up Lough Gur Pottery seven years ago in County Limerick. Taking inspiration from the beautiful Lough Gur landscape and the millennia of history in the region, Clair designs her homeware and jewellery to reflect the ancient art evident in the archaeological artefacts that have been uncovered at Lough Gur. Her work is sold through her website and local outlets. Clair also runs pottery course and workshops from her studio.
Empowering women in agriculture: Teresa Roche: Cheesemaker, Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese
Teresa is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and hand makes the award-winning Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese on her farm in County Galway on the foothills of the imposing Slieve Aughty Mountains. The creamy, nutty, buttery cheese is made from the highest quality raw ingredients from grass-fed pedigree dairy cows and is fully traceable and sustainable from farm to fork and Bord Bia – Origin Green approved. Producing a product that has a low carbon footprint is important to Teresa, who is passionate about empowering women in agriculture and creating jobs in rural Ireland.
Unearthing musical heritage: Dolores Vischer: Founder Creative Tours Belfast
After retiring from her job in Queen’s University, Dolores turned her lifelong passion for music into a business. She set up Creative Tours Belfast, which offers walking tours of the city delving into Belfast’s rich musical heritage which has earned it the designation of UNESCO City of Music. Dolores’s tours showcase Belfast's vibrant music and arts scenes with visits to several venues to hear music and discover the musical history of the city.
Sustainable boat holidays: Barbara Smyth: Managing Director Silverline Cruisers
Silverline Cruisers is one of the top companies providing boat hire for cruising on the River Shannon in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Started by Barbara’s parents over 50 years ago, the company is now run by Barbara and her brother Morgan from its base in County Offaly. It has grown to include additional service offerings such as bike hire and airport transfers, while retaining the family atmosphere and an ethos of customer first. All the Silverline cruisers use HVO biofuel to make cruising the Shannon eco-friendly.