Mayo businesswomen celebrated national recognition at Network Ireland awards
The six Mayo finalists represented a broad range of businesses and professional backgrounds, with Lorraine Hall of The Cleaning Corporation highly commended in the Established Businesswoman category.
Mayo women in business celebrated national recognition at the Network Ireland National Conference and Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 in Galway on Friday, September 18.
Network Ireland Mayo was proudly represented by six finalists at the event, which brought together women in business from across the country. The conference took place at Dexcom Stadium, followed by the awards ceremony at The Galmont Hotel.
Among the Mayo contingent, Castlebar businesswoman Lorraine Hall of The Cleaning Corporation was highly commended in the Established Businesswoman category.
The awards attracted 600 entries from across the country, with 101 finalists selected from Network Ireland’s 17 branches, representing more than 1,500 women. Around 320 people attended the conference, while more than 420 attended the awards evening.
For Lorraine Hall, the national recognition marked another milestone in a long association with Network Ireland Mayo. She has been a member of the organisation for more than 30 years.
She entered the awards for the first time in 2025, winning the Networker of the Year category and receiving a Highly Commended distinction. This year, she entered the Established Businesswoman category for the first time and was again recognised at national level.
“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.
The six Mayo finalists represented a broad range of businesses and professional backgrounds:
- Lorraine Hall, The Cleaning Corporation, Castlebar – Established Businesswoman
- Maureen McAndrew, Make Your Wardrobe Work, Belmullet – Creative Professional
- Olaide Anjorin, FaceSkincare, Castlebar – Emerging New Businesswoman
- Ellen Keegan, Gintax Ltd, Westport – Early Career Employee
- Sandra Ganley, Sandra Ganley Dance, Bohola – Solo Businesswoman
- Carmel Hughes, Sage Wellbeing, Kiltimagh – Networker of the Year
Behind the six finalists was a strong support network within the Mayo branch.
Branch Awards Coordinator Cora Mulroy supported applicants and finalists throughout the process and reintroduced finalist interviews for the first time in 10 years, allowing the Mayo nominees to practise presenting their stories and businesses ahead of the national judging process.
The finalists also received mentoring support from LEO Mayo and Fran Best before travelling to Dublin for their national interviews at AIB.
“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 Mulroy.
Network Ireland Mayo Branch President Orla Bakeberg said the achievements of the finalists reflected not only their individual businesses and careers, but also the courage involved in putting themselves forward.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The Mayo branch also had a speaking role at this year's conference, with Orla Bakeberg delivering her first Lightning Talk, Be Your Change | The Power of the Possible.
Her talk focused on the potential for individual and collective change and concluded with the symbolism of the butterfly, alongside the message that a small group of like-minded people can make a difference.
Network Ireland Mayo thanked everyone who supported the branch and its finalists throughout the awards process, including national partner AIB, LEO Mayo, Fran Best and the members who supported and encouraged the finalists.