Irish entrepreneur success stories

FEATURED PROFILES
Cathal Gaffney – Brown Bag Films

Cathal Gaffney of Brown Bag Films has made the journey from college dropout to feted CEO by virtue of hard work, self-reliance and an endless passion for animation.
Tom Kearney – Spice O'Life

Corkman Tom Kearney travelled the exotic historial spice routes of the East before coming home and setting up his own spice company Spice O’Life in Dunmanway.

Bernard Walsh - Hot Irishman

This company has gone from being about 40pc to 90pc export-based in five years.

Finding the best locations is one of the secrets of John Boyle's success.

In the space of ten years, Voya has achieved impressive export growth.

Over the years Edmond O'Reilly has established a number of different businesses.

In 1995 Sahar Hashemi c-founded one of the UK's original coffee brands with her brother Bobby.

In the past seven years Irish Dog Foods has grown from a turnover of €3m to €30m.

Domini and Peaches Kemp
Itsa

It's just over 10 years since Domini and Peaches Kemp set up the itsa food company, which has since expanded to include four gourmet bagel stores, a café, three restaurants and the outdoor catering company, Feast.
Michael Carey
Jacob Fruitfield

Chairman of Jacob Fruitfield Michael Carey used to work in his father’s newsagent in Cabra on Dublin’s Northside selling Silvermints, Scots Clan and other brands over the counter, which he has since gone on to drive as consistent market leaders.
Eoin Blacklock
keepITsafe

Managing director of IT security firm keepITsafe, twenty-seven year old Eoin Blacklock’s entrepreneurial flair came to light in his college years when he and Jonathan Crowe, now technical director, saw a gap in the market to supply a cost-effective backup solution to companies.
Killian Stokes
Mygoodpoints.org

Set up by Killian Stokes in 2009, Mygoodpoints.org is a registered charity that aims to be fully up and running by September 2010.
David Walsh
Netwatch

In the space of seven years, David Walsh has led Netwatch in Carlow to the point where it has opened a new state-of-the art corporate headquarters and is in a position to create 50 new research and development (R&D) and operations jobs.