How Christy Kelleher and his family built the Blarney Woollen Mills business.
The Mahony brothers established a mill in Blarney, County Cork in 1823. In 1928, age then aged 13, Christy Kelleher began work at the mill. He never imagined he would one day own the mill that gave him his first job.
In 1975 Christy Kelleher bought the mill and set out to build a successful business. He began selling products created at the mill from a small shop in a thatched cottage which he built. Twenty-one years later the Blarney Woolen Mills company employs 250 people. On the first day trading from the little shop a profit of £14 was made. In 1987, the turnover of the business enterprise was £14 million. The Blarney Woolen Mill complex now consists of a shop, a factory, a bar, two restaurants and a hotel. Christy Kelleher's children now play a lead role in building the business.
Blarney Woollen Mills has focused on the fashion side of the business and Freda Hayes, Christy Kelleher's daughter, recently won the award for fashion buyer of the year.
Top quality knits in particular have earned Blarney an excellent reputation in the clothing field.
Another daughter Marian is also a buyer and learned the business from her father. Now she teaches other members of staff and is learning to delegate responsibility in the shop.
Denise O'Mahony who works in the shop says that the Kellehers are not afraid to pass on responsibility to staff.
The family business has further expanded with Kevin Kelleher, Christy's son, who started to manufacture men's knitwear under the brand name Tricot Marine.
This episode of 'Head To Toe' was broadcast on 4 November 1988. The presenter is Mary O'Sullivan.
