Donegal Pens brothers Ronan and Conor Mc Garvey celebrated the completion of their new workshop and installation of new equipment with an open day yesterday.
The brothers received sponsorship of €4,500 euro from the Expert Hardware company who came on board to provide them with new facilities when they were turned down for and grant aid because they are both under 18.
Alan Grant, a director of Expert Hardware, that has just under 50 outlets nationwide, heard about their plight before Christmas and offered to fund the new 7 X 4m workshop and a new Record Power Nova Lathe.
Mr Grant was on site yesterday in Loughanure to see the boys working in their new premises and with the new equipment.
The schoolboy brothers set up Donegal Pens over two years ago and have been going from strength to strength with orders shipping worldwide and many companies now also using the pens as corporate gifts. They have also updated their website www.donegalpens.com and the revised version will go live shortly.
Ronan, 15 said he and Conor, 12, said they are delighted that the project is now complete.
“Everything is in place now and thanks to Alan and all at Expert Hardware we have a brilliant new workshop and equipment.
“We are also delighted to hear that Expert Hardware has signed up its first outlet in Donegal – Mc Clafferty’s Mace & Hardware store just out the road from us in Gortahork.
” We were delighted with the open day and it was great to allow people the chance to see us at work and get a first hand view on how we make the pens,” he said.