Kellie Harrington and Business Leaders Inspire Fingal Enterprises at Joe Duffy Land Rover Event

Olympic boxing champion Kellie Harrington encouraged business leaders in Fingal to focus on consistent improvement and resilience as she shared lessons from elite sport at The Drive for Success event during Local Enterprise Week.

Harrington was speaking at the event hosted by Fingal Chamber in partnership with the Joe Duffy Group at the Joe Duffy Land Rover showroom in Airside Retail Park, Swords.

More than 120 members of the Fingal business community attended the event, bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders and policymakers for an evening of discussion, insight and networking around the mindset and leadership required to achieve sustained success.

Speaking during the discussion, Harrington emphasised the power of incremental progress.

“Success comes from the small things you do every day. If you can be just 1% better today than yesterday, that progress adds up over time.”

The event featured a panel discussion on leadership, resilience and performance in demanding environments. Alongside Harrington were senior figures from Irish business including Gavin Hydes, Chief Executive of the Joe Duffy Group; Niall Horgan, co-founder of Gym+Coffee; and Eddie Wilson, Chief Executive of Ryanair. The lively conversation was moderated by entrepreneur and podcast host Gary Fox.

Panel members shared candid reflections on building successful organisations, discussing topics ranging from scaling global businesses and maintaining cost discipline to protecting brand identity and sustaining performance.

The event also featured an exhibition of six emerging Fingal companies — Anyscor, Climate Matters, Cozmotec, Jack Murphy Clothing, Manna Air Delivery and Now Coco — giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with emerging businesses and learn more about their work.

Senior public sector figures also addressed the gathering, including Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Head of Enterprise Oisin Geoghegan, who highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, enterprise agencies and local businesses in supporting regional growth.

Fingal Chamber President Jim Wylie highlighted the importance of strong networks and collaboration as the region continues to grow.

“Fingal is Ireland’s fastest-growing county and that growth brings both opportunity and responsibility. Businesses here are ambitious and forward-looking, but they are also navigating real pressures. Events like The Drive for Success bring the business community together to learn from leaders who understand those challenges first-hand and to build the connections that help businesses grow.”

Hosting the event, Joe Duffy Group Chief Executive Gavin Hydes said the company was proud to support initiatives that celebrate ambition and enterprise in the region.

“At Joe Duffy Group, we are proud to support the business community in Fingal and to host events that bring leaders from across sectors together to share honest insights into both success and setbacks. The experiences shared this evening — spanning elite sport, entrepreneurship, and global aviation — highlight how focus, adaptability and continuous improvement are essential to sustained success.”

The Drive for Success event formed part of Local Enterprise Week 2026, a nationwide initiative run by the Local Enterprise Office network to support small and medium-sized businesses through training, mentoring and networking events.

The event stood out as one of the flagship gatherings of Local Enterprise Week in Fingal. It also highlighted Fingal Chamber’s role in supporting enterprise and driving regional competitiveness. Through advocacy, events and partnerships across business and government, the Chamber represents the collective voice of business in Fingal while helping companies to start, scale and succeed.