Mary Ann O'Brien
Founder of Lily O'Briens Chocolates

Mary Ann O’Brien is one of the most widely recognised and successful female entrepreneurs to emerge in Ireland in the past twenty years.  Having started Lily O’Brien’s chocolates in her small Kildare kitchen in 1992, she has grown the business into one of the country’s most recognised global brands.  The company, named after her first-born daughter, is Ireland’s premier chocolate manufacturer and a leading brand within the UK chocolate category.  Located in Newbridge, Co. Kildare the company currently employs more than 100 full time staff and produces 180 varieties of chocolates at a rate of between 55 and 60 tons per week (a long leap from the 2 tonnes produced in 1992!).

Having been awarded an Irish Businesswoman of the Year Award by Tatler in 2003, Mary Ann has been recognised often by her peers in business throughout the past decade, including Image Magazine Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2007.  The company’s commitment to exports has also led to numerous accolades including Trailblazer Exporter of the Year in 2005 and Irish Food Exporter of the Year in 2006.  More recently the company has received the Irish Business of the Year Award from Business and Finance in New York for its longstanding commitment to pursuing business in the US.  With exports accounting for more than 80% of the company’s annual turnover, growing exports remains one of the company’s key strategic objectives for the coming year.

A committed charity fundraiser, Mary Ann is also co-founder of the Jack and Jill Foundation, with her husband Jonathan Irwin.  Founded out of the personal tragedy of losing their baby Jack, who had suffered for 18 months through severe developmental difficulties, the foundation has raised millions over the years to provide nursing care and home respite for families in similar situations.

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