Donegal Pen brothers secure funding

Added: 08-12-2011 16:13:18

Two young brothers from Loughanure, Annagry, who run their own business, Donegal Pens, have secured funding from a voluntary marketing group for independent hardware stores - Expert Hardware.

Rónán and Conor McGarvey, aged only 14 and 11 respectively, have secured €4,500 in funding for a “brand new shed” and a “brand new lathe.”

Speaking to Donegal Now, Conor says, they had tried to get funding from Udarás na Gaeltachta but were unsuccessful because of their age.   They decided to get the word out via various media organisations that they were looking for financial support and it was through the radio programme, Morning Ireland that they found it. 

Conor says, “We wanted companies to just buy 20 pens maybe.  We didn’t expect this.  Dad told us the news after school on Monday.”

Managing Director of Expert Hardware, Alan Grant, says he decided to “step in” after hearing the boys’ plight. 

“I heard how they were working in an old shed that was leaky.”  Mr Grant explained that because Expert Hardware had received such good support when they started out, they wanted to return some “good karma for the guys.”

Work on a new shed is due to begin in the second week in January.  Expert Hardware will also offer support with marketing and mentoring.

Mr Grant is so taken with the pens, he says he just put an order through today on their website.  “I have someone in mind for a special Christmas gift.  They’re a fabulous gift!  I just think what an ideal gift for someone and its good to buy something Irish.

He continued, "The pens are quite detailed” and went on to say, it takes a special kind of talent to wood turn and hand make this kind of product.  “They are very skillful young men and we are very happy to have these two young entrepreneurial guys on board.”

And Conor tells us business is great coming up to Christmas, “We’ve had orders from all over the world.  We have 60 - 70 pens on order since this morning.  We’ve a lot done today already – about 20.

The boys make the pens in the spare time – after their homework is done and at the weekends.  Conor says, “The most popular pen is the bog oak.”

See the boys full range of unique pens on their website http://www.donegalpens.com/

By Anna Devine