Two ‘Acorns’ grads encourage other Westmeath entrepreneurs to apply

Two female entrepreneurs from Westmeath have successfully completed the ACORNS programme, a development initiative that supports early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland.

With their certificates safely in hand, Alice Harrison of The Yoga Picnic and Eimear Nally of Bonny Bó Milk are now encouraging other Westmeath women to apply for the next cycle of the free business development programme, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Friday September 20. Those wishing to receive an application form should register on the website (acorns.ie).

With two friends, Alice, a criminal barrister, set up The Yoga Picnic, which takes place on the banks of Lough Ennell, celebrating mind, body and spirit.

She says: “ACORNS was a fantastic experience. It was so wonderful to meet other female entrepreneurs and hear their stories, trials and tribulations.

“At the start of a business venture, you can feel quite alone in your struggles, so it was great to feel part of something was so valuable.”

Eimear Nally of Bonny Bó Milk, which sells milk exclusively from a self-service vending machine at her farm just outside Athlone, has a degree in Agricultural Science. She says it was great to be part of a group of women with similar dreams and obstacles, and to hear other people’s perspective on her business.

ACORNS is based on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. Participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions facilitated by a lead entrepreneur who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland.

Only early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, and who have had no sales before the end of June 2021, are eligible to apply. Selection is on a competitive basis.

ACORNS 10 will run from October 2024 to April 2025 and will include six monthly round table sessions, a workshop on understanding financials, a briefing by various development agencies and an end-of-cycle celebration.

Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, says: “This initiative has supported more than 400 women in rural Ireland over the last 10 years. The programme aims to address the skills, enterprise and capability gaps that female entrepreneurs can face and takes into account the barriers which often limit entrepreneurial activity in rural areas.

I am delighted that once again we can target this area and help Female Rural Entrepreneurs to realise their dreams of starting and growing successful businesses.”