Perhaps best-known for his stardom in the Leinster Rugby arena, Eoin O'Malley raised the bar in Portugal's hospitality industry in 2022 with his new venue, the Bold Octopus proving a huge hit with locals and the D4 set alike. According to Evoke.ie, Eoin is part of The Loyola Group along with his business partner and brother, Brian. Add group director Stephen Cooney to the mix and the trio are the toast of the coast, earning a reputation as serious pub players not just in Portugal but also back home.
Previous to that, Evoke.ie reported that, the Loyola Group "acquired their first pub in Portugal, The Cheeky Pup, back in 2015. Other pubs in their Algarve portfolio include Tony's Pub and Botanico."
In this fascinating conversation with IPBN member Mark McSorley, Hotel and Residences General Manager at Quinta do Lago, we learned about Eoin's sporting career and what he has taken from it to go into business. His transition from a successful Rugby career to a successful business career in hospitality with his Loyola Group.