Talented teens success story Lucky Horseshoe

TWO teenage cousins are kicking up a storm in the entrepreneurial world, creating a business that salvages and restores old rusty horseshoes.

Eva Byrne (15) and Sam Bibby (16), students at Firhouse Community college, created Lucky Horseshoe during covid, and were nominated in the business category for Tallaght Person of the Year.

The pair have the creative gene, as their parents run Tallaght Powder Coating (TPC) – a leading trade powder coater in the country.

The horseshoes are sourced from wherever possible – equestrian centres, stables and farriers to name a few.

The craft work is done at the TPC workshop in Ballymount on the weekends, after school, and also at home.

They bring the horseshoes home and decorate them at the kitchen table, sometimes with the help of family members like their grandmother or other siblings.

The horseshoes make wonderful Christmas decorations, sell for €20, and come with a box the pair designed themselves.

Eva Byrne and Sam Bibby creating the Lucky Horseshoes

Eva and Sam came up with the idea after a friend asked could they do something horse riding related on horseshoes for her.

The pair, members of St Anne’s GAA Club, painted and decorated them, and then decided to follow in the footsteps of their parents’ award winning business, where they have worked for pocket money.

Officially, they launched the venture in November 2021 after “two very boring years at home” due to lockdowns, but also needing some money for Christmas.

The horseshoes are sold at local markets, online via Facebook and through word of mouth.

Eva and Sam also make fairy door horseshoes, Christmas trees and reindeers, as well as other themed horseshoes for special occasions, christenings, birthdays, new baby, new homes and much more.

Looking ahead, music lover Eva would like to be a school teacher, while sports mad Sam isn’t quite sure yet, but it is likely he will continue in the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the family.