An event “bringing together inspiring women leaders to explore work-life balance, leadership, personal wellbeing and success” is taking place in Mullingar this weekend. Led by local resident, Emer Walshe, who is deputy national president of Junior Chamber Ireland (JCI) Ireland, ‘Redefining Balance for Women in Leadership’ is on Saturday April 11 (noon-4pm) at the Greville Arms Hotel.

“The event is part of my year-long Women in Leadership programme,” said Emer.

“The project consists of a team of nine people, leading various initiatives, and that team are led by one of my project team members Mariam Adefuye.

“We wanted to do it in Mullingar because it’s central and we decided on the Greville Arms. We’re bringing together inspiring women leaders to explore the realities of work-life balance, leadership expectations, personal wellbeing and the evolving definition of success.

The day will include multiple panels with local speakers and other experts from across the country.

“We have some great women, Ruth Illingworth is one of the panellists. We have Sharon McNevin as well and some JCI senators, some really fantastic women... Dolores Andrews, a JCI senator, a workplace wellness specialist and confidence coach.

“And then we have Michelle Daly Hayes and she’s connected to people all over the country,” said Emer. “She’s a business consultant and a radio presenter in Limerick and a public relations expert as well.

“I’m going to be on a panel as well and we’re still confirming other panellists.”

Emer thinks “it’s important we bring everyone into the conversation”.

“This is something that was specifically done with this programme. I wanted men and women included. We need to make sure that we’re opening the conversation to everybody to be able to empower women as leaders.

“I want to enable women to own their voices, to gain confidence and to understand their power as leaders and the positive changes they can make on the world .

“We’re not just educating people for the future – we’re teaching people to unlearn the ways of the past,” Emer said, referring to an event she had attended recently.

“We’re moving forward with a new narrative and we want that to be inclusive. The future has to be inclusive.”

The event comes as the Louis Theroux documentary ‘Inside the Manosphere’ on Netflix makes headlines for its depiction of highly conservative male influencers and their derogatory attitudes to women.

In Emer’s opinion the emergence of such “influencers” shows why inclusive conversations are needed more than ever. “I watched the documentary and it’s clear that men need to be included. This is not an environment where it’s genders or other people against each other.

“It’s an environment where we need to educate everyone to teach people to unlearn societal things that have been embedded for decades.”

The Junior Chamber International has pushed for progress since it was founded in 1915. The group has had many influential members across the world, from JFK to Kofi Annan.

“We’re not interested in polarisation but we’re interested in open dialogue, open conversations,” said Emer. “That’s the only way we can come together nationally, and internationally and be able to live together in that way for the future. We’re responsible, we have an obligation to shape future generations and teach future generations. This event is a starting point.”

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Yesterday at the Dublin Chamber AGM, Council Meeting and Dinner, our 2026 President Sevinç Cömertoğlu was proud to be in the room representing JCI Dublin and honoured to be serving on the Chamber Council for 2026.

Powerful, forward-looking conversations on business, leadership, and how AI will shape the next phase of growth in Ireland.

Thank you to speakers of the night Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Caitriona Walsh (Novartis), Frank O'Keeffe (EY), Mary Rose Burke (CEO), David Kelly (Incoming President), and Eoghan Quigley (Outgoing President) for the perspectives shared.

We are gateful that JCI (Junior Chamber International) is part of the dialogue shaping what’s next.

After a productive board meeting at tcube to map out the year ahead, JCI Dublin formally inaugurated our 2026 President Sevinç Cömertoğlu and the Board of Directors!

The evening marked the official start of the 2026 mandate, bringing members, partners and friends together to recognise the leadership team who will guide JCI Dublin through the coming year. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this important milestone, especially outgoing President Emer Walshe and Photo Studio Vilovski for the photography! 

Across all of JCI Ireland, here’s to a year of growth, collaboration and meaningful impact in 2026! 

And that’s a wrap 2025.

We closed out the year with our JCI Dublin members at our End-of-Year party in Dublin Chamber last weekend.

Led by JCI Dublin 2025 Local President Emer Walshe, we celebrated the success of 2025 with the JCI Ireland National Awards, awarded to us by 2025 National President Pierre Yimbog. We were the proud recipients of 5 National Awards

We then announced the upcoming Elected 2026 Local Board, led by Local President Elect, Sevinç Cömertoğlu. Congratulations to all of the incoming Local Board members for their elections. We’re confident that 2026 is going to be an even more incredible year.

During the evening we also continued our donation drive for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, thank you so much to everyone who donated both by providing materials and through the QR code.

A special mention to our partners throughout the year, TU Dublin Enterprise Engagement and Enterprise Ireland, to Dalibor Vilovski for yet again providing these beautiful, professional photos capturing the evening, and to Felicia Awe, Founder of Awesome Creations Limited for orchestrating a stunning, and delicious, display of non-alcoholic cocktails for the event. 

Thank you to all our members, partners and everyone for your contributions to a successful 2025, and here’s to an even better 2026

We empower dreams, one pitch at a time.

Our vision is simple yet profound: to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to transform their businesses and drive positive change in the world.

The CYE Competition, short for "Creative Young Entrepreneur" is a pitch competition dedicated to fostering innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit among today's brightest minds.

Sharpen your pitching skills, increase your business reach and be in with a chance to win the prize of competing in International CYE, where you can win up to $10,000. 

CYE 2025 applications are closed! 2026 applications coming soon. 

JCI Ireland Ten Outstanding Young Persons  

From entrepreneur experts to humanitarian heroes we look for the outstanding young leaders who are making a true difference and inspiring others across the country.

JCI Ireland TOYP serves to formally recognise young people who excel in their chosen fields and create positive change. By recognising these young people, JCI raises the status of socially responsible leaders in the world. The honorees motivate their peers to seek excellence and serve others. Their stories of discovery, determination and ingenuity inspire young people to be better leaders and create better societies.

Young men and women from around country will be nominated in one of ten categories. 

• Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment
• Business, Economic, and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment
• Political, Legal and/or Governmental Affairs
• Medical Innovation
• Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership
• Cultural Achievement
• Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment
• Contribution to Children, World Peace and/or Human Rights
• Scientific and/or Technological Development
• Moral and/or Environmental Leadership

Conditions:
Must be between the ages of 18-40
If successful must be able to attend the JCI Ireland National Conference Gala Event.