MBTA 2025: Who will take the award for Best Small Tourism Experience
SPONSORED BY BOYNE VALLEY TOURISM
Stories of myth and legend forged in iron
An Gobha Iron Works & Experience
Tell us about your business and team
An Gobha Iron Works and Experience’s primary focus is the preservation of cultural and ancestral history, unique to the Boyne Valley, Ancient East. An Gobha – Blacksmith of the Boyne Valley – Tom King - is an iron worker that provides an immersive experience located at the forge at Bohermeen. Guests are not just informed of ancient story of myth and legend, they engage with it through costume, props, fire and theatre.
An Gobha Iron Works & Experience is a silver lining story that developed from Covid times. The business has since evolved, and the brand is creating a totally unique and memorable experience with substantial opportunity for employment and development.
Describe the best thing about your service
Guests at An Gobha’s forge will enjoy a demonstration of an ancient iron works from start to finish, where it is then their turn to work fire and anvil and make a bespoke pendant that they keep and take home. The hospitality at the forge entails a large banqueting hall and table decorated with thrones, with a fire torch setting the scene for a most memorable and enjoyable banquet for visitors. The experience also has a section like the Slighe Assail corridor once used by Queen Maeve and Robertstown House, adapted to Durhamstown Auxiliary Workhouse during the hungry years.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
I’ve always stayed true to a quote given by the legendary Judge Judy: “The most important thing in life is to find what you’re strongest at. The second most important thing is to find a way to make a living from it.” That’s been a game changer for An Gobha.
What does the future hold for your business?
The future is incredibly bright with scope and employment opportunity in the pipeline at the forge of An Gobha. A high level business plan is in development at present that will ultimately lay out a roadmap highlighting milestones and creating a totally new and exciting immersive experience in Ireland’s Ancient East.
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Uniting the generations through music, dance and theatre and crafts
Siamsa Glas
Tell us about your business and team
Siamsa Glass has just held its 2nd annual festival in September 2025. It was another successful event for the Siamsa Glas community and committee which had some great new events in the line-up this year with more local businesses coming on board and benefiting from the festival. Once again, the Baile Ghib Gaeltacht area and its rich history and culture were celebrated along with exploring the Lakelands Greenway with many events taking place along its trail. Communities and villages along the route were linked and enjoyed new visitors and exciting events and activities with organisers and participants alike feeling very lucky to be part of such an amazing place to explore, exercise on and learn how to make it their own.
Describe the best thing about your service
The ability to unite communities! We love the fact that this idea has brought so much positive impact to locals, young people and the older people of the parishes to tell their stories through music, dance and theatre and through crafts that have spanned generations.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“Ní neart go cur le chéile….There’s no strength without unity.”
What does the future hold for your business?
We are sure that this festival will flourish with the help of Meath County Council and their enthusiastic team from Discover Boyne Valley who were so supportive to the Siamsa Glas organisers from the start. The future looks bright for the Siamsa Glas Festival. We hope that each year it’s looked forward to with joy.
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A unique experience learning the secrets of a master craftsman
Shane Holland Design Workshops
Tell us about your business and team
Duleek based Shane Holland Design Workshops is proud to have worked for many prestigious clients since it was established in 1991. Since then it has designed iconic awards pieces that have been presented at ceremonies in Ireland, UK, Europe and the USA. Shane Holland Design Workshops has a reputation based on its studio’s excellence in design, our eye for detail and that an agreed deadline will always be met.
Its award-winning design studio challenges itself to make unique exciting awards for its many clients considering their individual needs.
Describe the best thing about your service
Shane Holland Design Workshops – run by Shane Holland - is based on the idea that customers can make a mini sculpture under a master’s supervision, giving visitors ownership of the experience. They get to sign and take away an object of their own handcraft, which is unique to them. They also get time to investigate the treasures of the Boyne Valley area, which has so much to offer.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
Only go after a market that you know you can service properly.
What does the future hold for your business?
Shane Holland believes in organic growth; “I also wish to give back knowledge of my many years of design and craftmanship. I wish to continue to develop my sculptural work further, keep developing the tourism product and commercial projects and look forward to opportunities to show and share my knowledge.”
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Uncovering the hidden secrets and gems of the Royal county’s ancient heritage
Medieval Trim Walking Tours
Tell us about your business and team
Medieval Trim Walking Tours invites its customers to discover the rich heritage of one of Ireland’s most historic towns with local tour guide Cynthia Simonet – an experienced, certified guide. The tour offers a fascinating journey through Trim’s medieval streets, past the impressive Trim Castle, along the River Boyne and uncovers hidden secrets and gems.
This fun and informative tour blends history, legend, and local charm and people will see Trim in a whole new light and experience heritage and storytelling at its best. Cynthia Walking Tour celebrates Trim’s charm, character, and shows its enduring place in Ireland’s history and heritage.
Describe the best thing about your service
“Being a local tour guide in Trim, County Meath, is a truly special experience,” says Cynthia, being both rewarding and filling her full of pride. Trim is one of Ireland’s most historic and picturesque towns, and guiding visitors through it offers a unique way to share its stories and beauty – being a storyteller who turns stone walls into living history. Each season gives the town a different character with the human connection of meeting people. Each day is different but every day you are surrounded by a beautiful town and its unique landscape, she adds.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
You are not just a guide, you are a storyteller, an ambassador and the keeper of Trim’s history and spirit.
What does the future hold for your business?
I would love to see a team of Local Tour Guides in Trim. I would be willing to train and share not just my information but also my experience with anyone who has a similar passion.