About Us

Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises really began during Covid. Like everyone else, we suddenly found ourselves spending a lot more time at home. Shops were closed, people couldn’t visit family and friends the way they normally would, and Facebook became one of the main ways people in the community stayed connected.

I started putting together hampers and gift packages from home. There was no big business plan behind it. I simply enjoyed finding different items, putting them together and creating something that I knew somebody would be delighted to receive.

I shared a few of them on Facebook, people started ordering, word began to spread, and before long I realised there was a real demand for what I was making. What began as something small during a very unusual time quickly became much more than I expected.

People came back for birthdays. Then Christmas. Then Mother’s Day. Then Easter. They ordered gifts for friends, partners, parents, children, colleagues and neighbours. And, thankfully, they kept coming back.

Over time, Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises grew almost entirely through Facebook, recommendations and word of mouth.

Now I’ve taken the next little step and brought everything together here on my own website. It feels like a big milestone for what is still intentionally a very small business.

Family is a massive part of my life. My husband James and I have six children and, so far, one grandchild, so there is rarely a quiet moment in our house!

Being part of a big family also means I’ve spent years buying presents for every imaginable age, personality and occasion. I know how difficult it can sometimes be to find a gift when you want something that feels thoughtful but you aren’t quite sure what to buy.

That’s where the idea behind the hampers really comes from. I love taking a selection of things that work well together and turning them into one complete gift. It could be a cosy package with pyjamas and treats, a self-care hamper filled with skincare and pampering products, a gift for him with Lynx and other favourites, or a seasonal hamper made especially for Christmas or Easter.

There’s something lovely about receiving a hamper and discovering all the little surprises inside.

That’s the feeling I want every Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises gift to have.

I’m proud that Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises is based right here in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Roscrea isn’t just where I run the business. It’s my community.

Outside of Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises, a huge part of my life is dedicated to Teach na Gréine, the voluntary, resident-run community house in the Gleann Glas estate in Roscrea.

Teach na Gréine means “House of the Sun”, and I think the name suits it perfectly. It’s a safe, welcoming place for people in the community, particularly young people and families. Throughout the year, we’re involved in local activities, youth projects, seasonal events, summer camps, family support, training and community initiatives.

For me, community is about people looking out for one another. That same attitude carries into Sommer’s Seasonal Surprises. I genuinely enjoy getting to know the people who order from me, hearing who the gift is for and helping them choose something that will put a smile on that person’s face.

That personal side of the business is something I never want to lose.