THE LADIES of Network Ireland Limerick had their first event of 2024 in the Savoy Hotel this past week, kicking the new year off with a new president and vice president, as well as hosting a special visit from an Emmy-winning US journalist.
Fiona Doyle was appointed as president of the Limerick branch of Network Ireland late last year, with local singer Eve Stafford taking up the role of vice president for the year ahead.
Ms Doyle’s first event as president was something of a homecoming, as the first Network Ireland Limerick event the primary school teacher and personal stylist ever attended was also at the Savoy.
The event, ‘How to Get More in 2024’, saw Emmy award-winning former CNN journalist and founder of Language of Leadership, Gina London, give a talk on communication and how to communicate more effectively.
Speaking to the Limerick Post after the event, Ms Doyle said she couldn’t be happier with how her first event at the helm went.
“I’m thrilled because we had a fantastic event. It was very successful, we had a super crowd, a lot of fantastic women here, very supportive crowd, you can feel the energy in the room which is amazing as well,” Ms Doyle said.
She told the Limerick Post that “it’s been a whirlwind stepping into the shoes of president”.
“It’s the first time I’ve done something like this, I’ve been vice president for the last year and we had a wonderful president last year, Karen Ronan, but it’s something I’ve always aspired to. I’ve been part of the membership now for eight or nine years, and I’ve always looked up to the presidents in years before me. I did aspire to be here, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity,” Ms Doyle explained.
Network Ireland is a voluntary group that aims to support the personal and professional development of women in all walks of life, from entrepreneurs, women working in small and medium enterprises, multinational organisations, to the arts and culture scene.
Ms Doyle explained that Network Ireland Limerick is a community and that anyone is welcome to join, no matter their career background.
“It’s people returning to work, it’s women who are jumping ship and maybe moving to different careers, it’s women who are starting careers – it’s not necessarily for business owners or professionals, it’s for anyone.”
“It’s open to everyone, and even if you don’t have the idea, it’s a support group, it’s a safe environment,” Fiona said.
Speaking to the Limerick Post after her keynote speech, Gina London said that attending events like the one held by Network Ireland Limerick fuel her passion for sharing experiences with other women.
“Women often have a similarity of experience, around maybe being felt like less in a work situation, or being ignored by male counterparts in college, those types of situations, those aren’t unique still, unfortunately,” she explained.
“That open conversation that we can have as women, which I think helps propel us even more, is something that I’m certainly passionate about.”
Ms London isn’t a strange to the Treaty City. On her last visit, which saw her give a talk at University of Limerick, she was spontaneously treated to a whistle-stop tour of the city’s landmarks by a local taxi driver.
On her trademark confidence, she said: “You never know who you’re going to meet, but my encouragement is always ‘go and say yes’, because it might make a big difference or make a great memory.”
