MBTA 2025: The shortlist for the Best Family Business Award:
From small coffee shop to thriving destination restaurant, giftshop and sanctuary for animal lovers
SPONSORED BY BECTIVE STUD
SAGE & STONE
Tell us about your business and team
Sage & Stone is a destination business comprising of a restaurant, giftshop, takeaway, off lead dog park and animal sanctuary situated in the Lynch Family Farmyard just outside Duleek. Started by Ciara Lynch Burke and her mam Liz with just a coffee machine, a few scones and a small kitchen shop, Sage and Stone is now a thriving business with a team of 37 staff.
Describe the best thing about your service
The Sage & Stone values are to provide a service to customers with a warm welcome and delicious home cooked meals, akin to when visiting a family farm.
These values are what the staff aim to work with every day and this is why people come back again and again.
What's the best business advice you've ever been given?
Never ask your staff to do something you are not prepared to do. Make sure your staff see you getting your hands dirty and you will never have a problem with respect.
Another thing is to ensure you work 'on' your business as much as working 'in' your business.
It is very important to take a step back and work on the overall operations and let your well-trained staff look after the day to day.
What does the future hold for your business?
Ciara still works with partner Mick and mam Liz in the business with four daughters who have learned the business from an early age. I feel it is important not to expect the next generation to automatically want your business but let them fly and do their own thing and perhaps they may bring something back to the business to bring it to the next level someday.
Maybe a franchise of Sage & Stone to disused farmyards across the country bringing the same community spirit that we have brought to the Duleek Bellewstown area.
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The unique Headfort welcome that visitors return to time and time again
THE HEADFORT
Tell us about your business and team
Owned and managed by the Duff family, The Headfort represents a truly authentic family run Irish hotel. The hotel, centrally located in the heritage town of Kells, employs over 130 staff with an ethos of heartfelt hospitality.
All under one roof, visitors can enjoy the Vanilla Pod Restaurant, the Kelltic Bar Pub, the Headfort Lounge and Café Therese. Conference and banqueting caters for up to 350 banqueting and 500 theatre style hosting a rich calendar of weddings, conference, live events, musical performance and parties marking all of life’s milestones. The hotel also offers 45 bespoke bedrooms and the Headfort Spa Rooms hosting a unique offering of luxury experiences.
It is a proud member of Original Irish Hotels, holds the Guaranteed Irish charter and an active member of Boyne Valley Tourism and Boyne Valley Flavours.
Describe the best thing about your service
The Headfort Welcome and its commitment to the best of locally sourced food is what makes the hotel unique and a reason for visitors to return time and time again.
Guests enjoy the familiar face of so many long-standing members of ‘Team Headfort’ who are with the hotel, some for decades offering the best of Irish hospitality, welcome and professional service with a personal touch. The Headfort is at the core of the local community and this means ‘knowing our customers,’ their needs and wants and responding to that over years, our motto being ‘we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen!’
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Reflect and assess.’ In other words, when posed with a decision that at the time might warrant a reaction, the best thing to always do is ‘sleep on it,’ reflect and do what is right for you and the business, which is often the right option over the easy option.
What does the future hold for your business?
In the current climate, it firstly revolves around managing our cost base, protecting jobs and nurturing our place in the community as a key employer within the town of Kells.
We are firmly committed to sustainable practices and that looks to become more of a core element of our business for the future, from carbon calculators to renewable energy sources, regeneration of food waste.
We are always looking to reinvent ourselves with new experiences in collaboration with local attractions and expanding our offering whilst remaining true to our core values of a family-run business.
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A genuine warmth and personal touch only a family-run hotel can offer
DARNLEY LODGE HOTEL
Tell us about your business and team
At The Darnley Lodge Hotel, a family-run business since 2013, David and Hazel Sheridan have created a warm, welcoming hotel rooted in community. We host life’s special events from weddings and birthdays to Christmas parties and family gatherings and are renowned for our Sunday Carvery.
We also provide a Meals on Wheels service, working with a local committee to deliver hot dinners to those in Athboy and surrounding areas. Our 47-strong team, led by manager Joe McGovern and Head Chef Martin Mockler, delivers exceptional service. Guests enjoy cosy bedrooms, a homely atmosphere, and a focus on sustainability and local tourism.
Describe the best thing about your service
At The Darnley Lodge Hotel, the best thing about our service is the genuine warmth and personal touch only a family-run hotel can offer.
Guests are treated like part of the family, with heartfelt hospitality and thoughtful attention to detail. Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime celebration or a quiet weekend away, we take pride in creating memorable, personalised experiences. Our dedicated team, many with us for years, goes above and beyond to ensure comfort, care, and connection.
It’s this authentic, people first approach that sets us apart and keeps guests returning to The Darnley time and time again.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
The best business advice we’ve ever received is: “Look after your people, and they’ll look after your business.” By investing in our team and creating a supportive, respectful environment, we’ve built a strong foundation for excellent service, lasting relationships, and a business that truly reflects our values of community and care.
What does the future hold for your business?
With three new apartments, The Darnley will boost occupancy and improve guest experiences through the I-STAR Program. Committed to growth, sustainability, and community, we partner with local providers and Boyne Valley Tourism to attract more visitors to Meath, guided by a passionate team and strong values.
Showcasing Irish creativity on the global fibre stage
TOWNHOUSE YARNS
Tell us about your business and team
Townhouse Yarns is the Meath-based arm of ‘This is Knit,’ a family business founded in 2006 by Lisa and Jacqui Sisk.
In 2014, Jenny Sisk joined the team and proposed establishing a hand dyed yarn range for retail outlets. Jenny has ultimately become the Creative Director of this division, which has since grown into a vibrant production and export operation. Jenny leads a skilled team of dye specialists and studio operatives, supported by the wider This is Knit team in fulfilment, marketing and customer service.
Together, we’ve built a sustainable and scalable business - expanding employment, developing international partnerships, and showcasing Irish creativity on the global fibre stage.
Describe the best thing about your service
The best thing about our service is our ability to combine creativity with reliability. Every customer - from an independent yarn shop to an individual crafter - receives personal attention and consistent quality. Our Meath-based team manages production, fulfilment, and support with efficiency and care, ensuring orders are accurate and beautifully presented.
With roots in retail, we understand our clients’ commercial realities and tailor our service to help them succeed. This dedication has earned us exceptional customer loyalty and steady international growth — proving that a creative business built on family values can also deliver world-class service.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to ask for help. When you’ve built something from the ground up, it’s easy to try to do it all yourself. Real growth happens when you trust your team, welcome collaboration, and build on your foundations together.
What does the future hold for your business?
The future of Townhouse Yarns lies in sustainable growth - expanding our international reach while strengthening ties with Irish farmers and mills. We plan to invest further in our Meath studio, increase capacity and employment, and continue showcasing Irish creativity and craftsmanship on the global stage.