RDJ hosts leading names in arts and culture for Fempower 2026

RDJ welcomed a distinguished group of voices from Ireland’s arts and cultural community to its Cork office at 85 South Mall on Monday, 11 May, for Fempower 2026 — the firm’s annual event celebrating the innovation, resilience and success of women and female-led enterprises. 

Now in its third year, Fempower 2026 shone a spotlight on cultural trailblazers and contemporary creatives who have helped shape Ireland’s cultural identity both at home and on the international stage. The event brought together an audience of business leaders, creatives and clients to explore the impact of creativity, leadership and difference across the arts sector.

The speaker line-up featured Fiona Shaw, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed actors, renowned worldwide for her commanding performances across theatre, film and television; Dorothy Cross, an internationally celebrated artist whose bold, conceptually rich work has played a defining role in contemporary Irish art; and Sara Flynn, an internationally recognised ceramic artist known for her sculptural porcelain and bronze vessels, exhibited widely across Europe, Japan and the United States.

The discussion also included Mary McCarthy, Director of Crawford Art Gallery, widely recognised for her national leadership in the visual arts and her role in developing landmark institutions, artists and cultural policy across Ireland, and Tom Clinch, co-owner and director of cultural consultancy and production company SoSimpatico, whose leadership of the Dublin Theatre Festival and sustained support of creative talent have strengthened Ireland’s cultural ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Gillian Keating, partner at RDJ, said:
“At RDJ, celebrating and promoting diversity is fundamental to who we are — it’s part of our B Corp DNA and it makes us a better firm to work with, work for and work in. Now in its third year, Fempower reflects our commitment to celebrating difference — not just powerful women, but the power of women. Fempower 2026 celebrated women in the arts whose creativity and influence have helped shape Ireland’s cultural identity, both at home and on the international stage. It was an inspiring reminder of the power of creativity, difference and women who lead by being unapologetically themselves.”

View highlights from the event here.