It’s our 10th year of our Women & Agriculture conference, which once again this year is supported by FBD Insurance and Sherry FitzGerald. So what are we doing to celebrate? We are bringing back a few speakers who you told us blew you away. One of those people is our keynote speaker, Maureen Gaffney.

When Maureen took to the stage in Killarney in 2012, she spoke of building resilience through adversity, about how when things go wrong in life you may feel overwhelmed and devastated but you do have a choice in how you react to the situation. She inspired, she encouraged, she sent us away feeling stronger and more able to deal with what life throws at us and now she is back five years later to do the same. One of the most celebrated speakers from our Women & Agriculture conference, Maureen Gaffney is not to be missed.

This year, Oliver Callan will be entertaining at our Gala dinner on Wednesday 25 October, a delicious and impressive four-course meal where our ladies can catch up with old friends and enjoy an overnight treat in the beautiful Mount Wolseley Hotel. He will also be joined on the night by Neven Maguire, who will be preparing tantalising treats.

On the day of the conference, we will be kicking off with economist David McWilliams. Author of The Pope’s Children and The Good Room, among others, this is the man who predicted the housing crash was on its way back when the Celtic Tiger was booming. Now with rising house prices once again, he will be giving his insight into what the future holds for the Irish economy, and how that will impact on the farms of Ireland, farmers and their children.

Putting money in your pocket will also be a key feature of the morning session, as well as an inspiration talk from female European leaders who have risen up the ranks in agriculture.

We will have two very fit men in the afternoon to inject some liveliness into the room, as brothers and rugby legends Rob and Dave Kearney will be helping us keep fit. On top of that, Mary Ann O’Brien from Lily O’Brien’s will be talking about building her successful business. Sallyanne Clarke from l’Ecrivian and Siobhan Lawless of Food of Athenry will speak about keeping their business going in the face of adversity. We will also be talking about the all-important Fair Deal Scheme.

Our Women & Agriculture Conference in association with FBD Insurance and Sherry FitzGerald will take place on 25 and 26 of October in Mount Wolseley Hotel in Co Carlow. Get your tickets here