ACORNS alumni and Louth native Aoife Finnegan’s scaling business Curio PR was a happy accident.
When Aoife Finnegan returned to her hometown of Dundalk in early 2020, she didn’t expect to become a business owner.
With more than a decade of high-level PR experience in London, Sydney and Dublin – including roles with Tourism Ireland and Diageo – she assumed she’d eventually head back to the capital and continue working in-house.
“I am focused on scaling the business sustainably, continuing to support creative entrepreneurs, festivals, and initiatives that deserve a wider platform”
A turning point came when her friend Sarah, of Sarah McKenna Ceramics, asked for help promoting her business – a favour that quickly turned into something bigger.
Word spread fast. Artists, makers and small creative businesses across the region began getting in touch, people with great stories, but little time (or energy) to tell them. Aoife launched Curio PR in 2021 to fill that gap: an independent agency focused on arts, culture, hospitality and tourism, rooted in strong storytelling and strategic media outreach.
She is a graduate of the celebrated ACORNS women entrepreneurship programme which recently opened applications for 11th Cycle as previous participants reported 54% revenue growth. The next programme has a deadline of midnight on 22 September. The programme is available to early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland who have generated sales no earlier than the end of June 2022. Up to 50 places are available for ACORNS 11, which will run from October 2025 to April 2026.
Scaling sustainably
Aoife Finnegan, Curio PR
Today, Curio PR is the official PR representative for Visit Louth and Sea Louth, drawing on Aoife’s deep tourism knowledge to spotlight the region’s food, landscape and cultural offering.
“My client base continues to grow, expanding beyond Louth to include businesses from across the country. I am focused on scaling the business sustainably, continuing to support creative entrepreneurs, festivals, and initiatives that deserve a wider platform.”
She credits the ACORNS programme with helping her see the bigger picture of running a business.
“It was very valuable to hear from other women going through the same challenges, and it gave participants a great forum to share experiences, ask questions and support each other.”
Looking ahead, Aoife plans to grow Curio PR as a trusted agency for Ireland’s creative sector, working with people and projects she genuinely believes in, and helping their stories reach the audiences they deserve.
From little ACORNS to thriving businesses
Women in rural Ireland with new businesses or at least with well-developed ideas are being invited to join next phase of the programme, ACORNS 11.
The ACORNS programme is designed to support early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland through a peer learning approach. Thanks to the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the voluntary contribution of time by Lead Entrepreneurs, there is no charge for those selected to participate.
Interested applicants for ACORNS must first register their interest here and will then receive an application by email. There is no charge for participation, thanks to continued government support and the voluntary contribution of time by Lead Entrepreneurs.
Results from ACORNS 10 demonstrate the programme’s impact on rural female entrepreneurship. All 52 participants who completed the cycle reported feeling closer to achieving their business ambitions, with 90% saying their participation brought about practical change within their business. Four businesses started trading for the first time during the cycle.
The financial results were particularly impressive, with the combined annual turnover of ACORNS 10 participants growing from €2.8m to €4.3m, representing a 54% increase. Participants employed a total of 104 staff at the end of the cycle, an increase of 15 positions, and 18 participants had gained export experience.
ACORNS operates on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers. The programme features monthly roundtable sessions facilitated by Lead Entrepreneurs who have first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing businesses in rural Ireland.
The programme has also been recognised as a ‘good practice’ on the EU’s INTERREG Learning Platform, adding to its recent accolades.
Top image: Peter Johnston, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Aoife Finnegan, Curio PR
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