Thursday, July 10, 2025

Over 200 people join Soroptimist Mullingar webinar in celebration of International Womens Day

Soroptimists Mu-llingar and District were in awe when over 200 people joined their webinar to celebrate International Women’s Day on Monday, 08 March 2021.
Those who joined were not just from Westmeath or neighbouring counties but from all across the country, Norther Ireland, the UK and even as far as Washington and New York.
Sarah McCormack, Soroptimist who was MC for the event said it is wonderful to say they were not disappointed. The show went off without a hitch and the content kept the audience connected right up to the virtual curtain coming down, with a sing out with Sandra Dolan’s live rendition of “Goodbye Venice” having opened the music entertainment with “Good Looking Woman”.
Soroptimist Mullingar & District President Anne Melly, in her address, reflected back on the year, when this time last year Soroptimists and friends celebrated in person in the Bloomfield House Hotel. She felt she had to retain the tradition of Mullingar & District Soroptimist hosting an event to celebrate this very important day for women and to celebrate the achievements of women and the challenges yet to be addressed.
GUEST SPEAKERS
There were many guest speakers on the night.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, gave so generously of her time telling her own story of how she succeeded in life to be, as she is now, Minister for Justice and how challenging life can be like when her father died and she had to decide on going into politics. She answered questions put forward from the audience, who all wished her luck and wanted her to do whatever it took to make sure she got her paid maternity leave.
Local music teacher, performer and song writer Maedhbh Hughes added to the entertainment with a splendid delivery of her own written song “Lucky Hand” followed by a well known and very appropriate one for the night “A Woman’s Heart”.
Local business women Clair O’Neill from Maeb Enamels, Katie Murphy from Wolfhound Fitness and Caroline Hynes from Jasmine gripped the audience with their own personal stories. They spoke about how they had to adjust, be resilient, call on their passion and reserves to keep going and find new opportunities to cope with the impact of Covid on their businesses and amidst all that, still don’t know what the future will hold for them.
Even the virtual world did not take from Mary Hughes, actor and story teller, as she related a story penned by John Cowley who was a proud Ballinagore man, as the virtual worldwide audience hung on her every word to get the outcome of the story of that man and woman meeting St. Peter at the Golden Gates.
GO FUND ME PAGE – THANKS
President Anne Melly thanked the Soroptimist members who had the courage to take on the organising of this new style event and referred to Soroptimist Mullingar Gofundme page https:// www.gofundme.com/f/7cq9g-eur5000 , raising funds for T.E.A.M., St. Vincent de Paul and local charities. She reported that €7,437 has been raised so far and progress is being made to reach the target of €10,000.
Anne thanked Annette Barr-Jordan, Acting Senior Executive Officer and Age Friendly Programme Manager with Westmeath County Council for joining the event, and for the partnership and sponsorship from Healthy Ireland-Healthy Westmeath-KeepWell campaign, under the Sláinte programme. Thanks was also paid to Leo Colgan, IMS for their technical support and sponsorship, which was all needed to deliver this high class performance on the night.

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