Is Northern Ireland a place where ambitious people can genuinely build something big?

This week I’m joined by an old friend, entrepreneur, councillor and current Mayor of Ards and North Down, Craig Blaney.

We talk business and entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland, the realities facing hospitality, whether we do enough to encourage ambition, Craig’s journey into politics and what being Mayor actually involves. We also get into his own ambitions, balancing politics with family life and the small matter of whether he’s actually training for the Bangor 10K. 😂

A slightly different Founder & Family conversation about business, politics, ambition and family in Northern Ireland.

Can you train like an athlete, chase ambitious goals and still put your family first?

In Episode 26 of Founder & Family, I sit down with Sinéad Boyd to talk about HYROX, discipline and the reality of building serious training around an already full life.

We get into what consistency actually looks like, how she finds the discipline to keep showing up and the constant challenge of balancing personal ambition with being present at home.

Because the difficult part isn’t always the training itself. It’s finding the time, managing the guilt and deciding what you’re willing or unwilling to sacrifice along the way.

A really honest conversation about whether it’s possible to pursue big goals without the people closest to you paying the price.

If you enjoy the episode, subscribe to Founder & Family and let us know in the comments: can you genuinely have both?

Follow Sinéad:
@sineadboyd8

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@founderfamilycollective

Chris Braniff is the founder of Proud Girl Dad Co. a brand built around fatherhood, identity and the unique privilege of raising daughters.

In this episode, we talk about where the idea came from, turning something deeply personal into a growing business, and what it means to pursue your own ambitions while remaining present for the people who matter most.

It’s an honest conversation about business, purpose, fatherhood and the reality of being completely outnumbered at home.

A proper girl-dad conversation although, as we both know, the girls are very much in charge.

You’ve heard plenty about Jenny over the past year… it was probably about time she made an appearance.

Between two young girls, an A&E career, businesses and everything else life throws at us, we rarely get an uninterrupted hour to just sit and chat. So that’s exactly what we did.

We talk family, work, relationships, communication, life in A&E, play a questionable game of Mr & Mrs, and finish with a question that meant more to us than we expected.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying your best while juggling a busy life, hopefully this one reminds you you’re not the only one.

If you enjoy it, we’d love if you subscribed and shared it with someone who might too.

A year ago, Dean McFarland became the very first guest on Founder & Family.Twelve months later, he's back.

In this episode, we reflect on what has changed over the last year not just in business, but in family life, ambition, priorities and the way we think.

If you're an ambitious parent trying to build something meaningful without sacrificing your family, this conversation is for you.

If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a like and sharing it with someone who'd benefit from the conversation.

Brought to you in partnership with Ballygowan B-Active.

Follow / connect:

Instagram: @declanholmes08 @founderfamilycollective

Find Dean :

Socials: @deanmc88

@nightcapeventgroup

@thefoxesdenards

One thing really stuck with me after this conversation with Conor: say yes, then work it out.

It’s a mindset that’s opened doors throughout his career, created opportunities he never expected and shaped the life he’s built today.

We also chat about family, building a career online, staying grounded and why creating space for proper conversations often reveals things you never knew even about people you’ve known for years.

Hope you enjoy this one. If you do, I’d really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a comment and sharing it with someone who needs to hear it.

Brought to you in partnership with Ballygowan B-Active.

Follow / connect:

Instagram: @declanholmes08

@founderfamilycollective

Find Conor :

Socials: @belfastfoodblogger

A few weeks ago, Ciara and I bumped into each other in a corridor for the first time.A few weeks later, we’re sitting down for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on Founder & Family.From the outside, Ciara had achieved many of the things we’re told should bring fulfilment. The business was growing, the goals were being achieved and life looked successful by most people’s standards.Yet something felt missing.In this episode, we explore the reality of ambition, why the next milestone rarely delivers what we expect, and how family, wellness and being present can matter more than another achievement, pay rise or title.It’s a conversation about success, fulfilment, motherhood, identity and learning to enjoy the life you’re building while you’re still building it.A special thank you to Ballygowan B-Active, our Founding Partner, for supporting these conversations.

Founder & Family CollectiveConversations with founders, leaders and creators building meaningful businesses without losing sight of what matters most.

Follow / connect:

Instagram: @declanholmes08

@founderfamilycollective

Find Ciara :

Instagram: @ciaradalyoffical @happyfestni

Youtube:  ⁨@Ciaradalymakeup⁩ 

What if the best business to start... already exists?In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur Jenna Hill to explore a path that most aspiring founders never seriously consider: acquiring an existing business instead of building one from the ground up.We discuss why buying a business can sometimes be a faster, less risky route into entrepreneurship, how to identify the right opportunities, what makes a business worth acquiring, and the mindset required to take ownership and lead it forward.But this conversation goes far beyond balance sheets and business deals.Jenna shares her perspective on building a life that creates freedom rather than consuming it, setting boundaries, protecting family time, and defining success on your own terms.Whether you're thinking about launching a business, growing an existing one, or simply trying to create more space for the people who matter most, there's plenty in this conversation for you.In this episode:Buying a business vs starting from scratchHow to spot acquisition opportunitiesThe risks and rewards of business ownershipCreating freedom through entrepreneurshipBuilding boundaries around workFamily, ambition and modern successWhat Jenna hopes her children remember about this season of lifeIf you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who'd get value from the conversation.Founder & Family CollectiveConversations with founders, leaders and creators building meaningful businesses without losing sight of what matters most.

Follow / connect:

Instagram:

@declanholmes08

@founderfamilycollective

Find Jenna :

Instagram: @jennahilloffical

This week I sit down with Laura Smyth from White Noise for a conversation around business, branding, family and stepping into something you never fully planned for.

Laura talks about taking over the family business from her dad, balancing leadership with motherhood, and how the world of branding and design is rapidly evolving in the age of AI.

We also get into control, growth, learning to let go as a founder, and the reality of building something meaningful while still protecting flexibility and family life.

A thoughtful conversation on legacy, ambition and adapting in a modern world that keeps moving fast.

If you enjoy conversations around entrepreneurship, creativity, family and high agency living, make sure to subscribe and follow along.

Follow / connect:

Instagram: @declanholmes08

@founderfamilycollective

Find Whitenoise :

Instagram: @wearewhitenoise

Website: https://whitenoisestudios.com/

This week on Founder & Family, I’m joined by Sandra Corkin and Scott McCabe of Oasis Travel one of Northern Ireland’s most recognised family businesses.

What started over 40 years ago as a passion for travel has grown into a multi-award-winning brand with eight offices, a team of 60, and customers who’ve travelled with them for decades.

But this episode goes far beyond holidays and destinations.

We talk about the reality of building a long-term business as a family, the pressure of stepping into leadership, how the travel industry has evolved through uncertainty, and what it takes to modernise a legacy brand without losing what made it special in the first place.

We also get into:

• Working with family without damaging relationships
• Letting go of control
• Navigating uncertainty in travel
• Leadership across generations
• Standards, reputation and customer trust
• The emotional side of succession in business
• Why people still value human connection in an increasingly digital world

A really honest conversation about business, resilience, and what it means to build something that lasts.

Follow / connect:

Instagram: @declanholmes08

@founderfamilycollective

Find Oasis Travel :

Instagram: @oasistravelni

Website: https://www.oasis-travel.co.uk