This article is from page 25 of the 2008-01-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
THE driving force in_ Bridget Sweeney’s life is her “Burrenview’ bed and breakfast business in Bally- vaughan and she proved it when pick- ing up her latest award last month.
On her way to an end-of-year awards function for the Tourism Learning Network, her car broke down. Yet just a few weeks before she had won a new car in a national newspaper competition. But Bridget opted to convert the car prize into cash, which she invested in the com- fort of her guests rather than her own driving convenience.
Not even the breakdown halted Bridget. Still stained with oil and
erime when she finally arrived in Limerick’s Castletroy Park Hotel, she was stunned to learn that she was one of three award winners chosen from the 25-strong membership of the Clare Tourism Learning Network.
Winning ways are nothing new to Bridget, from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, who was the leader of an award-winning customer care team in the telecoms industry before she used the proceeds of an early retire- ment package to finance her dream of running a B&B in the Burren.
She took on the job of project manager for the conversion and refurbishment of ‘Burrenview’ which opened in 2006 and was an award winner within its first year.
The five-bedroom B&B with dis- ability access in all en-suite rooms won a ‘Welcome Award’ from Failte Ireland as well as getting a ‘highly recommended’ endorsement from Family Homes of Ireland.
Before she opened her doors to paying guests, Bridget conducted a series of test-runs to weed out any problems or shortcomings for her as a newcomer to the tourist trade. She invited well-travelled friends and family to visit and provide feedback.
“They told me what they thought of how I greeted them on arrival, how I informed them about what was on offer in the area, the comfort of the bedrooms and the quality of the breakfast,” she said.
Bridget’s winning ways have also helped to fit out Burrenview. She has a flair for dreaming up winning slo- gans. Her prize from one competition provided the furniture for the patio looking out over the Burren, while light fittings and an aquarium were also won in slogan competitions.
Bridget received her ‘Tourism Learning Network award for her achievement in developing a boutique bed and breakfast venture at New- town, Ballyvaughan. Other winners presented with their awards by Clare Mayor, Councillor Patricia McCa- rthy, were Davnet Cronin O’Brien of Clonlara Equestrian Centre and John Davoren of Caherconnell Fort in the Burren.4