By Peg Prendeville

Isn’t it great to wake in the morning to sunshine and breakfast outdoors. I know it came suddenly and is probably a bit too intense but it is still welcome nevertheless. It’s only for a short few days.

Sincere sympathy to Ted White, Tournafulla, and his family on the death of Mary at the weekend. Ted and family are great Vintage fans and have always supported the local Knockdown Vintage club in their activities.

We took advantage of the fine weather to pay a trip to Barnagh at the weekend. What a smashing place and amenity for everybody. A play area for the little ones, bikes to hire for the sporting people and tea/coffee facilities for those of us who just want to rest and enjoy. It would have been nice to do a bit of walking on the Limerick Greenway but it has no wheelchair access at that point or at least it would be a very steep path and I am not that adventurous. It’s funny that when we are fit and healthy we cannot see the disadvantages for those who are not as lucky, until we are forced to see. However it was a lovely pleasant morning there.

It is looking like the Knockdown Arms will be open to outdoor drinking next weekend. Ta has been busy making many improvements to accommodate all. We hope it all works out for those who can’t wait for the pub to open up again. 

The following is an extract from an interview Lisa Daly of Dromagarraun did with RollerCoaster.ie recently about her new business which she has started from her home.

“It was the memories from my childhood that inspired me to create the 21st birthday memory journal,’ says Lisa Daly, founder of This Is You.

The mum-of-five spends her time looking after her children and running a business that helps families keep their memories alive, something that is very important to her.

The idea for the mum’s first product, a Lifetime Memory Journal in which parents can record everything about their child and is intended to be gifted to them on their 21st birthday, was inspired by all of her childhood memories.

She told RollerCoaster that she comes from a hard-working family which has inspired her in her career and her drive for success. ‘My dad was always busy whether it was on the farm or helping out a neighbour with some project,’ the mumpreneur shared.

‘My mam was a stay at home mother while we were young but went back to work once we were old enough and enjoyed the challenge of it.

‘It was the memories from my childhood that inspired me to create the memory journal as well as the journals I have been keeping for my own children since they were born,’ Lisa added.

Influenced by her own Mum, she is always home with her children. She has multiple school runs to do as well as a baby who is home with her all year round.

With all this on her plate, it’s hard to believe she balances it all with a business but she has mastered the art. The multitasking Mama dips in and out of emails throughout the day, ‘when I get a spare minute,’ or when her youngest goes for a nap.

Her philosophy is that her children experiencing her working and succeeding like she saw her own mother do. She believes this will shape them for the future.

‘It is good for the children to see the business in action and to see their Mom as a business person. I try to include them as much as possible.’

Being her own boss allows her to tailor her schedule to her family’s needs, which has been a godsend after the events of the last year.

‘Of course Covid is not our friend here and it has been very tough on us all. So trying to juggle that and kids and a new business on top of everyday life has been interesting to say the least!’

She says that her biggest challenge being a mum is ‘having to be on call 24/7,’ even though she loves being at home with her children.

‘Adding a new business into the mix adds a whole new level to it. It is not easy juggling it all and I always feel guilty if one of the kids even mentions the phone in my hand or Instagram etc (as that is where I do most of my business). That’s hard,’ she shared.

Business challenges are another issue and Covid and Brexit have created their fair share for this Mama, causing a huge delay on orders and consequently the launch of her business.

‘Time is also a challenge as I mentioned already. Juggling 5 children and their needs, as well as the business, does take organisation but I have a routine now that is working for me,’ she explained to RollerCoaster.

With ups and downs, Lisa has rolled with the punches and says that the main ‘high’ of her business is the ‘great feedback’ that she receives. Another positive for her is the idea that she is being a good role model for her five children.

‘The low is the time it takes away from the kids but I try not to let it impact on them too much,’ she added.

When asked about the advice she would give people who are hoping to start their own business although she is only finding her feet in the new world of business at the moment,’ I have found that it helps is having a routine in place and to set aside time each day for both kids and business. It may not always work but it does for the most part!’

Well done to Lisa on having the courage to follow her dream. She can be found on Instagram @thisisyou_x . Her website is www.thisisyou.ie . She has recently launched her second journal called This is you and Your home. Check it out for yourselves.