Jacqueline O’Farrell smiles remembering the local hubbub when word first got out that she was building a swimming pool on the family farm.

“My father told people it was for dipping the sheep,” laughs the mother-of-three behind Grove Health Spa in Shanballymore, Co Cork, whose accolades include the 2012 JFC innovation award in rural enterprise and tourism.

Of course, some people may have been bemused by Jacqueline’s plan to open a spa after a fire devastated her family home in the late ’90s, but it quickly becomes clear that she is not one to be easily derailed. Take for example her decision to expand the business in 2009 with a French-inspired summer kitchen, despite the recession.

“I was still building and the world was collapsing,” she says, as she lights a blue hyacinth scented candle in the sun-filled space, which today lends itself to meditation and relaxation workshops.

“I remember my mother saying to me, ‘Don’t leave an unfinished symphony, finish it!’”

Work Ethic

Indeed, confidence was instilled in Jacqueline from the day she arrived at the 70-acre dairy and mixed farm in a Morris Minor, at just six months old. She considers herself blessed to have been adopted by Richard and Cecelia O’Farrell, who were a huge inspiration – particularly her mother, who was something of a serial entrepreneur, running the equivalent of a 24-hour grocery shop, up their tree-lined avenue.

“She sold everything from tennis balls to TCP,” smiles Jacqueline.

Her work ethic obviously rubbed off. While studying music at UCC, Jacqueline juggled a breakfast shift at the Victoria hotel with picking up glasses at the college bar at night and teaching piano at the weekends.

“I had no fear, because confidence was instilled in me from the word go,” she says. “My mother praised me beyond belief and that praise is still here. To be told by your mother and father you’re good, nothing can buy that.”

Sadly, Jacqueline’s mother passed away in 1994 after battling cancer for a second time, but her influence lived on in many other ways. Having seen her mother struggle with the effects of chemotherapy, and having suffered her own health set-back after being diagnosed with lupus, Jacqueline began researching alternative and complementary therapies.

By then, she was working as a secondary school teacher, but soon started a sideline business selling a wholefood nutrition supplement.

Health Farm

This work introduced her to the health farm concept, but the spark for her own business was lit – rather literally – after her family home was destroyed in 1997 during a fire caused by an electric blanket, when her father was still living there.

Rather than just rebuild the house, Jacqueline added a swimming pool.

With support from groups such as Teagasc and Ballyhoura Development, including a £50,000 agri-tourism grant, she opened Grove Health Spa in 2001, adding eight modern treatment rooms in 2005 and converting the site of an old hay barn into the summer kitchen in 2009.

Grove Health Spa has continued to expand, employing up to 12 staff at peak times. While clients can come for a treatment like a facial or a massage (journalist Amanda Brunker, former RTÉ presenter Theresa Lowe and 11890 founder Nicola Byrne are all fans), one of the most popular packages is a three-day wellness programme, delivered in conjunction with cancer survivor Bernadette Bohan, which explores areas such as diet, meditation, exercise and mindfulness.

Furthermore, this April Grove Health Spa will launch a new programme aimed at reversing and managing obesity, pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, through a customised exercise and dietary plan along with mindfulness, stress release and holistic treatments. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the programme will also be run in collaboration with nutritionist Fiona Geaney, who is currently completing her PhD in public health nutrition iat UCC, under professor Ivan Perry.

Participants will be tracked over a 12-week period and if the programme is a success Jacqueline believes it could have a lot of potential internationally.

Of course, there have been major sacrifices along the way, such as Jacqueline’s decision to leave her teaching job to concentrate fully on Grove House, to financial choices, such as re-mortgaging for development. But Jacqueline believes that survival in business rests on four ‘P’s’.

“You have to have the passion, the perseverance, the patience and you have to hang around positive people,” she says.

“If you feel the advice you get first time isn’t right, get a second opinion. If you feel it still isn’t right, get a third opinion.

“I’ve also been brought up as a ‘networker’ and my business has been built on networking and people. I love people and I’m afraid of no one. Why should we be afraid of people? What have we to fear?”

Still, having your own health spa can’t hurt when it comes to stress management.

“You can create your own sanctuary,” smiles Jacqueline, curled up on a chair in her summer kitchen; her finished symphony. “My happiest memories are all here.”

FURTHER INFORMATION

Day packages, including lunch and one treatment, start at €65, while three-day wellness programmes are available from €500 with accommodation.

Upcoming dates include the Bernadette Bohan programme from 28 February to 2 March and the new programme aimed at obesity, pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, from 11 to 13 April.