How it all began
Lily O'Brien's Chocolates started life as the brainchild of Mary Ann O'Brien who, having recovered from a debilitating illness in the early 1990s, discovered her true passion for all things chocolate. Embarking on a journey of discovery, Mary Ann honed her chocolate-making skills among world class chefs and chocolatiers in both South Africa and Europe before starting her own mini enterprise from her Kildare kitchen in 1992. With little more than two saucepans, a wooden spoon and her then toddler, Lily, acting as production manager Mary Ann began to create high quality chocolate recipes for friends and family.
"I wish I could invite you into my kitchen where the Lily O’Brien's story began in 1992.
The air heavy with the scent of melting chocolate. The table covered with the ingredients for my first flavour combinations. Ground nuts, grated ginger, orange zest, sticky caramel, crunchy sea salt, herbs picked from the garden, still damp with dew.
I wish I’d known, back then, that the name Lily O’Brien's would travel all over the world. That some day, I would be able to share my love affair with chocolate with you!
I want to thank you for choosing Lily O’Brien's. For yourself and the people you love. For helping to make the dream I had in that small, cluttered kitchen come true.
And to tell you that love for chocolate is at the heart of everything I do. You are part of the Lily O’Brien's story too!"
Mary Ann O'Brien
The Full Story
Lily O'Brien's Chocolates started life as the brainchild of Mary Ann O'Brien who, having recovered from a debilitating illness in the early 1990s, discovered her true passion for all things chocolate. Embarking on a journey of discovery, Mary Ann honed her chocolate-making skills among world class chefs and chocolatiers in both South Africa and Europe before starting her own mini enterprise from her Kildare kitchen in 1992. With little more than two saucepans, a wooden spoon and her then toddler, Lily, acting as production manager Mary Ann began to create high quality chocolate recipes for friends and family.
Not satisfied with the scale of her enterprise she soon expanded in the hope of positioning excellent Irish chocolate on the world map. Naming the company after her daughter Lily seemed like the most natural thing to do at the time and since then Lily O'Brien's chocolates has established itself as one of Ireland's best-loved chocolatiers.
With Mary Ann still at the helm of the business, the passion that first inspired her chocolate honeycomb hedgehogs is still present in every aspect of the business and family values remain at the very core of Lily O'Brien's. Based in the heart of Co. Kildare, Mary Ann and her team continue to develop mouth-watering chocolate creations using the finest quality ingredients.
"Each and every chocolates has been created from the passion and pleasure we all share - we hope you enjoy tasting them as much as we enjoy making them for you!"