It all started with an Xbox...

After finishing his first year of secondary school, Matthew had big plans for the summer holidays. Those plans mostly involved his Xbox.

Unfortunately for Matthew, Dad had other ideas. The challenge was simple: find a way to earn some money over the summer instead of spending every waking hour gaming.

Matthew came up with a plan. His younger sister Melanie had a 3D printer and a love of arts and crafts. Why not put that printer to work making personalised keyrings?

It was creative, relatively inexpensive to get started and, perhaps most importantly, the printer could do most of the work while Matthew got back to his Xbox.

Challenge accepted. Loophole discovered. And just like that, Matthew Builds It was born.

Level 1: A little business is born

Armed with colourful filament and a little determination, Matthew opened an Etsy shop selling personalised keyrings. And people actually bought them!

It wasn't an overnight success or a business empire, but it was a start. Orders came in over that first summer, and Matthew kept things going throughout his second year of secondary school.

He was earning his own money and learning that a good idea, a little effort and a bit of patience could turn into something real. Although we're fairly certain he still managed to clock up plenty of Xbox hours.

Level 2: The summer challenge returns

Another school year finished. Another summer holiday began. And Dad had another challenge: take what Matthew had already built and see how far it could go.

We sat down together to look at what was selling, what we could improve and what we'd need to grow. With Etsy's fees taking a bite out of those hard-earned profits, we decided to take more control and build something of our own.

Enter the little sister...

Melanie had been watching her brother's business take shape. Now she wanted in. There was just one small problem: she wasn't particularly enthusiastic about joining a family business called Matthew Builds It.

Sibling rivalry? Perhaps just a little. But she had a point. If the whole family could be involved, it needed a name that belonged to everyone.

And so Lár na Tíre Makers was born. Based in Athlone, in the Irish Midlands, our name means “the middle of the country”, a nod to where we're from and where our creations begin.

Level 3: New tools, new possibilities

The money Matthew had earned during that first year helped us take the next step. We invested in a new 3D printer and added a laser engraving machine to the workshop.

Suddenly, we weren't limited to personalised keyrings. Laser-engraved gifts, colourful 3D-printed creations and all sorts of new possibilities followed. Once the family discovered what the machines could do, suggestions came thick and fast.

The family idea factory

Some of our favourite products began with conversations rather than business plans. Asking the cousins what they liked and what might be fun to make or give as a gift helped inspire our personalised Christmas boards and Halloween craft kits.

Then there was the humour. Matthew's cheeky “Do Not Disturb / You May Enter” sign sparked another idea: what if everyday objects could show exactly how you were feeling?

Our Status Coasters were born. From coffee moods and gaming sessions to payday celebrations and not-so-happy mornings, they add a little humour to everyday life.

Inspiration can come from just about anywhere. Especially when you've got a family full of opinions!

Still making, still learning

Today, Lár na Tíre Makers is a small family-run creative business making personalised gifts, 3D-printed creations, laser-engraved products and craft kits.

We're still experimenting, learning new skills and coming up with ideas. Some creations turn out exactly as planned. Others need a little more tinkering, a few choice words and occasionally a complete rethink. That's all part of being makers.

What started as one dad's attempt to get his son off the Xbox has become something the whole family can contribute to. Matthew may have found a clever way around that summer challenge, but he also discovered that an idea can become something real when you're willing to give it a go.

We're a family with a little workshop, plenty of imagination and an ever-growing list of things we'd love to make. And we're only getting started.

Welcome to Lár na Tíre Makers.

Made with imagination. Inspired by family. From the middle of Ireland.