Honoured to Speak at the Network Ireland Roscommon Business Woman of the Year Awards 2025
I was deeply honoured to serve as the guest speaker at the Network Ireland – Roscommon Branch Business Woman of the Year Awards 2025. It was a meaningful milestone both personally and professionally, and a moment that allowed me to reflect on how far Smart Digital Marketing & PR Agency has come since its early days.
This year marks six years in business, and standing in a room filled with talented, ambitious, and visionary women felt like the perfect way to celebrate that journey. Sharing my story, insights, and experience with an audience of leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs from across the region reinforced why community and collaboration matter so much in business.
My own path began long before I launched the agency. From the early days of managing a fashion blog and representing Roscommon at Miss Ireland 2014, to navigating a fast-moving career in digital marketing and PR, every chapter has been guided by creativity, curiosity, and a drive to build something meaningful. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with clients across Ireland and Europe in hospitality, retail, furniture, travel, education, mental health, and community development. Each campaign, partnership, and challenge has contributed to shaping the agency into what it is today.
The event also included a thoughtful introduction prepared by Network Roscommon, capturing the essence of my journey in a way that truly resonated. I am sincerely grateful for their kind words:
“A little bit about Ruth McCourt, founder of Smart Digital Marketing & PR Agency, is a proud Roscommon woman whose roots, resilience, and relentless drive have shaped a thriving career in fashion, digital marketing, and public relations. Born in Dublin to Roscommon parents and raised in Roscommon from the age of eight, Ruth’s passion for creativity and branding led her to earn a Business and Marketing degree from GMIT. From humble beginnings managing a fashion blog during the early days of social media to representing Roscommon at Miss Ireland 2014, Ruth transformed her natural flair and work ethic, honed since her teenage years working in Molloy’s Bakery, into a successful digital marketing career. With over a decade of experience, she now supports clients across Ireland and Europe, from hospitality and travel to retail, furniture, and mental health. She has worked with long-standing Roscommon client Declan Gannon of G Furniture & Carpets in Galway, creating an ecommerce website to showcase and sell his product range online. Her standout campaigns include raising over €150,000 for Helplink Mental Health through Smart Digital, and delivering results-driven strategies for brands like Supermac’s, Athlone Towncentre, and Ireland West Airport through her fashion blog Fashion Truth by Ruth. Ruth continues to inspire through her commitment to meaningful, results-focused marketing, all while never forgetting where it all started.”
Hearing those words read aloud reminded me that growth is rarely linear. It is built through persistence, reinvention, and the willingness to take risks. The support of the business community in Roscommon and Galway has been instrumental in that growth, and I am proud to continue contributing to a network that champions women in business and fosters genuine collaboration.
The awards ceremony itself was a celebration of talent, ambition, and leadership. Meeting the finalists and winners, women who are shaping their industries with innovation and resilience, was a privilege. Their stories were inspiring, and the sense of connection in the room showcased the strength of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
I want to extend my sincere congratulations to every finalist and award recipient. Your achievements are remarkable, and I look forward to seeing what each of you accomplishes next. Events like this remind us of the value of community and the impact of lifting one another up.
As Smart Digital Marketing & PR Agency moves into its next chapter, I am energised by the opportunities ahead and grateful for the people and partnerships that continue to shape this journey. The future is bright, and I look forward to everything that is still to come.
To learn more about my work or to discuss upcoming marketing, digital strategy, or PR projects, you can contact Ruth.