Over 400 business leaders gather in Carlow for an inspirational day of leadership, ambition, fresh thinking and practical insights from some of Ireland's most successful business and sporting figures.
Over 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs and sporting figures gathered at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel on Friday, 6th November 2026, for the second annual Club Carlow Business Summit, delivering an outstanding event that brought together some of Ireland's most respected and accomplished voices from the worlds of business and sport.
Jointly delivered by Club Carlow and Carlow County Council's Economic Development Unit, the completely sold-out summit featured international rugby coach Joe Schmidt, champion jockey Rachael Blackmore, Keeling’s Former Group CEO Caroline Keeling and Kingspan CEO Gene Murtagh.
Through a series of engaging fireside conversations, expertly facilitated by MC Ciara Doherty, attendees explored this year's powerful theme, “Breaking the Ceiling”, examining how ambition, mindset, resilience and leadership can unlock extraordinary potential in business, sport and life.
A central message throughout the day was that success is not simply determined by circumstances or external challenges, but by our willingness to challenge conventional thinking, push beyond perceived limitations and embrace a mindset of continuous growth and improvement.
Attendees heard compelling first-hand experiences of building world-class businesses, developing winning cultures, overcoming adversity and making difficult decisions under pressure. Crucially, the conversations went beyond inspiration, offering practical lessons and actionable insights that business leaders can bring back to their own organisations.
David Walsh, Chairperson of Club Carlow, said the summit had delivered something particularly valuable by challenging attendees to rethink what is possible for themselves and their businesses.
"When we chose 'Breaking the Ceiling' as the theme for this year's summit, we wanted to challenge people to think differently about what they and their businesses are capable of achieving.
For me, the most powerful message from today is that breaking the ceiling is fundamentally about mindset. So often, the greatest limitations we face are not imposed on us by others, but are the limitations we place on ourselves. The moment we begin to challenge those beliefs, raise our ambitions and change how we think, we open up a whole new world of possibilities.
What made today particularly special was that our extraordinary speakers didn't just inspire us with their stories of success. They shared real, practical insights and tools that every one of us can take back into our businesses tools that can help us challenge our thinking, build stronger teams, become better leaders and, ultimately, achieve things we may previously have thought impossible.
My hope is that everyone who attended today leaves Carlow not just inspired, but genuinely thinking differently about their future and the potential of their businesses. If we can achieve that, then this summit will have made a truly meaningful contribution to the business community.
And there is another very important dimension to what we are doing. Through Club Carlow, we are also helping to build a lasting legacy for the next generation. The funds raised will support the continued development of Carlow GAA's Centre of Excellence in Fenagh, helping to ensure that every young boy and girl in Carlow who dreams of achieving their potential in sport has the facilities and opportunities to become the very best version of themselves.
That, to me, is what Breaking the Ceiling is really about — believing in what is possible, having the courage to pursue it and creating opportunities for others to do the same."
Coilín O'Reilly, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, said the calibre of speakers attracted to Carlow reflects the growing reputation of the county as a place that values leadership, enterprise and ambition.
"It is a tremendous achievement to bring speakers of this stature to Carlow and provide local businesses with direct access to their experiences and insights. The leadership lessons shared throughout the summit will have a lasting impact on attendees.
Events such as this align strongly with Carlow County Council's commitment to supporting enterprise development, encouraging innovation and creating opportunities for businesses to learn, network and grow."
The overwhelming success of the 2026 Club Carlow Business Summit further establishes the event as one of the region's leading business gatherings, creating a unique platform where the worlds of business and sport come together to inspire ambition, challenge thinking and encourage growth.
More than simply a networking event, the summit reinforced a powerful message: the ceiling to what we can achieve is often far higher than we imagine and changing our mindset is the first step towards breaking through it.
