From Roscommon to rising entrepreneur – Ruth’s Smart Digital journey

On International Women’s Day Roscommon native Ruth McCourt is celebrating not only the global achievements of women but also her own journey as the founder of Smart Digital Marketing PR Agency—a business she has grown from the ground up after a decade spent honing her craft in the marketing world.

Ruth, from Roscommon Town, says the spark that drove her to set up on her own came from a clear need she saw emerging in Irish business.

“I saw an opportunity to support Irish businesses and SMEs with creative digital marketing and PR strategies,” she tells the Roscommon Herald.

Today, she works with clients across tourism, education, the charity sector and retail, helping them strengthen their digital presence, shape their stories, and reach the audiences that matter.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see businesses grow and gain visibility through the work we do,” she says.

Ruth was educated at Roscommon Convent of Mercy before studying at ATU Galway. Throughout college, she travelled home at weekends to work in Molloy’s Bakery and Coffee Shop—an early grounding, she says, in the realities of local business.

She credits the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Roscommon with playing a pivotal role in Smart Digital’s early days. A Trading Online Voucher helped her build and launch the agency’s first website, and that initial support, she says, made all the difference.

She is also quick to acknowledge the guidance she received from her parents, George and Rosaleen McCourt, especially in the challenging first years of business. Her father George, now head of innovation and enterprise at ATU, provided invaluable mentorship.

“It is great to get advice from someone who has knowledge. Years one to three were the toughest and my parents helped me power through,” she says.

Last year, Ruth was nominated for the Galway Chamber Business Awards, reaching the finals in the Best Small Media Enterprise category. She was also invited as a guest speaker to a Network Ireland Roscommon event—an experience she describes as particularly meaningful.

“I loved being a speaker for Network Ireland Roscommon’s Business Woman of the Year Awards and going back to where it all began.” Ruth also highlights the constant encouragement she receives from her fiancé, Paul Briscoe, a self employed farmer.

As for being a woman in business, she acknowledges the challenges while noting encouraging progress.

“Running a business is challenging for anyone, but women can sometimes face additional pressures—whether that’s being taken seriously in certain industries or balancing multiple responsibilities. But I do think things are changing positively,” she says.

This International Women’s Day, Ruth stands as one of many Irish businesswomen driving that positive change—one digital strategy, one growing client, and one brave step forward at a time.