Celebrating Women On International Women’s Day
On International Women’s Day, we recognize the achievements of women worldwide and honor the dedication of women at Blarney Woollen Mills. These women drive the company’s success and support the local community. Many have been with the company for years, growing and thriving alongside it. They passionately preserve Irish culture and heritage.
At Blarney, women play vital roles in the company’s success. They excel in all business aspects, inspiring women everywhere. Their achievements highlight the importance of women in business and society.
Today, the family still owns the company, with women making up a significant portion of the workforce. Their dedication keeps this beloved Irish brand thriving for almost 200 years. So let’s get to know some of the amazing women working at Blarney Woollen Mills!
Geraldine Walsh – Senior Sales Assistant
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Geraldine Walsh, and I am 58 years old. I started working at Blarney Woollen Mills at 14, in the original thatched cottage. Now, I am approaching 44 years of service! Every day, I enjoy coming to work and meeting everyone who visits. My motto is that I have chosen a job I love, so I feel like I havenât worked a day in my life.
Throughout the years, I have worked in every department, from the hotel to dispatch, and of course, in the retail store. Consequently, I gained experience in every area and became known as the Lady of the Arans!
Which women inspire you the most?
The original inspiration in my life was my Mother, she gave me all the qualities and work ethic that I use every day. She taught me how to be kind, empathetic, always smiling. Her motto was âIt costs nothing to be niceâ, and I remember that advice every day to ensure our customers receive the 5 star treatment they deserve in our store.
How do you influence your colleagues around you and the wider business?
I feel I influence my colleagues positively by sharing my experience and knowledge of the business with them. Training them to understand the way of Blarney Woollen Mills, with patience and understanding. I try to always support them as we are not like any other retail business. We have international and domestic customers and they are all different and every one of them is a VIP and making sure we tailor what we do for each individual customer sets us apart.
If you could pick one Blarney product to give to a woman who inspires you what would it be?
I would choose the Aran sweater, because every stitch tells a story and when you choose your Aran it is made with love and has our Irish heritage engrained in every pattern. If I was to pick a specific style it would be the Mary Lumber Cardigan as I love the natural color pallet that is inspired by our rural landscape.
Lorraine Ahern â Blarney Customer Service Manager
Tell us a bit about yourselfâŚ
I joined the company in 1988, aged 18. It was my first real job. I started in the office with general administration work. The time was before email etc. so we contacted customers through letters, fax, or telephone. There was no internet or websites or online shopping as we know it today but we did have a print catalogue. Within a couple years, I was offered a supervisorâs role in our packing and shipping department. We picked, packed and loaded containers for the journey to be delivered to our worldwide customers. I then moved on to Customer Service and never looked back.
Blarney.com just bloomed throughout the years. We have always been aware that what makes us so successful is being accessible and personable to customers. We believe that just because everything is electronic these days, it doesnât mean you have to lose that personal touch. At Blarney Woollen Mills, we all work together as a team to provide our customers with the best possible online shopping experience.
Which women inspire you the most?
The women in my family. My mother has been an extraordinary influence on my life, I miss her every day but the lessons she taught me will remain with me forever. My sister had a tough time when her husband passed in his early 30âs and she was left a young widow with three small children. She went on to rear their three amazing children on her own. They are young adults now and an absolute credit to her.
How do you influence your colleagues around you and the wider business?
I love a challenge and my colleagues know that I am dedicated to whatever task I have to complete during my working day. I try to be polite, kind and professional and make sure that I do my job to the best of my ability. Yes, we all have off days, but then we just need to pick ourselves up and keep going.
If you could pick one Blarney product to give to a woman who inspires you what would it be?
Something really personal such as the Mullingar personalized Claddagh Box. It can be inscribed with whatever special message that you intend for the recipient and is a keepsake that can be kept forever.
Becky Kearney â Blarney Dispatch Manager
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Becky Kearney, I am 28 years old and I am from Donoughmore. 10 minutes from Blarney itself! I’m the dispatch manager here in Blarney Woollen Mills. I am responsible for ensuring all of the customer orders from both our online stores and physical stores are picked by my team. We ensure orders are packed with care to the highest standard and shipped all over the world. I’m proud to say that I started here as a temporary packing assistant and have worked my way up to my management position over the past few years.
Which women inspire you the most?
My biggest inspiration is Katie Taylor, womenâs international boxer. I feel she represents Ireland in such a positive light. She inspires me by showing what hard work, dedication and commitment can achieve. I have put this in practice myself both in and out of the workplace. I feel it shows by how I have made it to the position I am in at the moment.
How do you influence your colleagues around you and the wider business?
I look after a team of 6 who work very hard to ensure our customers receive the highest level of service possible. And I feel I influence my colleagues by always aiming to lead by example and support them in their learning and development at all times. I work closely with the retail managers, web teams and customer service, so I always try to be a helpful and positive cog in the big wheel that is Blarney Woollen Mills. Being part of a strong, women led team of individuals who work very hard to maintain the high standard that Blarney Woollen Mills is known for is something I thoroughly enjoy.
If you could pick one Blarney product to give to a woman who inspires you what would it be?
I would choose the emerald Claddagh ring as it represents such an inspiring meaning. Emerald is said to promote friendship, peace, harmony by enabling the wearer to both give and receive unconditional love.
Vicky Madden â Blarney Retail Assistant Manager
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Vicky Madden, I’m the assistant manager of the flagship Blarney Woollen Mills store. It feels like I have been at Blarney for a lifetime! I have been working here for almost 35 years! No two days are the same here! I usually start each morning with a staff check to make sure everyone is on the floor and that they are all in the right departments. However, the next minute I could be doing anything from serving customers to organizing a sale or planning a cruise.
My favorite thing about the job is the fact that it keeps me so busy. Every single day is different and brings its own challenges and rewards. When I started working in the store, I began as a sales assistant in the crystal department. After that, I was promoted to department manager and in 2015 I became an assistant manager, so I am very proud of the lifetime of service and having worked my way up the management system.
The shop has improved leaps and bounds over the years. I can honestly say that our standards are second-to-none when it comes to the quality of the product. I’m proud to say that the staff here truly go over and above for the customers and are my second family. In fact, Iâm with them longer than I am with my own family!
Which women inspire you the most?
Every day, my management colleagues Gillian, Suzanne, and Olivia inspire me. We take pride in being an all-woman management team of a successful store. Seeing Irish women lead in retail is amazing. Additionally, our CEO Freda Hayes inspires me by steering the company through the highs and lows of tourism and retail. I treat every day here as if it’s my own business, knowing all the ins and outs of daily operations.
How do you influence your colleagues around you and the wider business?
I lead a team of up to 50 who work hard to ensure Blarney Woollen Mills offers the highest standard of customer service. As part of an all-woman management team of four, we support each other daily in leading our teams. My 35 years of experience help me be a good leader within my team.
If you could pick one Blarney product to give to a woman who inspires you, what would it be?
I would choose the History of Ireland ring. It is intricately etched with twelve symbols, each expressing a key story or event in Ireland’s heritage and history. It would make the perfect lifetime gift for any woman.
Honorable mention: CEO Freda Hayes
Freda Hayes, CEO of Blarney Woollen Mills, has devoted most of her life to the brand. At 16, she left school to help her family run their craft shop. In 1975, her father, Christy Kelleher, bought Blarney Woollen Mills to showcase Ireland’s best products.
Because family has always been central to the Mills, Freda honors her father’s legacy by expanding Blarney Woollen Mills knitwear and creating the Fisherman Out of Ireland brand. Consequently, the Mills attract over 600,000 annual visitors, many of whom are repeat customers. Therefore, Freda has significantly contributed to the success and legacy of Blarney Woollen Mills!
