Gemma helps to build world-class tourism attraction in Mayo

Gemma Jordan (nee Lucey), a proud Cork native, has business in her blood. Raised in Mallow, her family institution of Lucey’s Butchers, now Lucey’s 1880, spans multiple generations. From an early age, she was immersed in the world of business, influenced by both parents. 

Now based in Mayo, Gemma’s passion for hospitality and people has led her through a successful career managing hotels across Ireland, culminating in her current role as General Manager of Westport Estate where she oversees day-to-day operations while driving innovative developments.

Angelina: Gemma, thanks for chatting to me. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Gemma: I'm from Mallow in County Cork, so I'm a proud Munster and Cork girl! I have two siblings, and they're both in business, and I grew up in the countryside with my lovely parents and siblings. That's a very special memory for me, being out in the country and somewhere that I love to return to. 

Our family business is Lucey’s Butchers, now referred to as Lucey’s 1880. The business has spanned generations of our family. It began in Bandon in West Cork in 1860, and then they moved to Mallow in 1880. It was run by my grandfather John, and it was passed on to my father, Con, in 1987, and then in 2002, my brother Ian took the reins.

Angelina: So business is in your blood, Gemma?

Gemma: Business is definitely in our blood. From a really young age, the three of us were in the shop and it was fight or flight. I remember as a child that the shop was a meeting place for locals, as much as it was for business. My grandmother, Kay, who would have been a huge influence on me, would hold court in the kitchen, and that was located at the back of the shop, where she'd have welcomed people in. There was a large kitchen table, and it was always full with the offer of a bowl of soup. 

So as a child, I just remember it always being busy, including with family - my father is one of 10, so many of cousins were often there at various times. But it was the locals that I remember the most.

Angelina: How did your background dictate the path you took Gemma?

Gemma: My journey was always going to involve business. My mother comes from a teaching background, but business was where I was going to be. 

I began my education in Mallow, in the convent where my mother also taught, and then my next step on the journey was onto the Ursuline’s in Thurles, where I boarded from 1996 to 2000. We had an absolute ball there. Then it was on to Galway to GMIT, where I did an honours degree in Hospitality Management from 2000 to 2004. 

Then I went off travelling to Australia and New Zealand. My uncle lived in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, so I got to go there and to Bali as well. 

Then it was time to become a little bit serious and put the head down. When I came back, I went to Claregalway, for a short period, and the luck of the Cork, a lovely gentleman called Con Ring came in and he started my journey really in Jurys. 

I went over to Jurys with the assistance of Stephen McNally and Pat McCann. I went from Food and Beverage Manager to Revenue Manager to Operations Manager over the course of my four years there. 

Then I was very lucky to get a phone call to go to Cardiff Lane [Clayton Hotel in Dublin] as deputy manager with the lovely Conor O'Kane, who was the general manager. I was only there for nine months with Conor, and I got my own hotel then in Smithfield...

I was very lucky to attend Cornell University as well, and I have a Strategic Hospitality Management there. I also have a diploma in Digital Marketing. I was general manager (GM) after nine months in Smithfield and I was there for three years. Then staying with the same company (Dalata), I moved to The Heritage in Portlaoise since rebranded as Midlands Park Hotel as GM, which would have been Dalata property as well. 

I was there for over five years, during which time I had three beautiful children, Molly Ruth who is now 12, and Harry is 10, and Isabelle is eight. We decided to move back to Mayo then in 2016, and for just under six years, I was in the McWilliam in Claremorris. My husband Aiden is a very proud Bohola man. 

Then luckily a very exciting opportunity came up to move to Westport - to Hotel Westport, and then move over to the estate with Barry O'Connor, CEO and the Hughes family.

Angelina: There's lots happening at Westport House at present too, so I am sure that's very exciting Gemma.

Gemma: It's something that I'm very privileged and very honoured to be a part of this team and especially for the project that we will engage in. The new development will elevate Westport Estate to international significance while remaining central to the town of Westport and the county of Mayo. It will transform Westport Estate into a world-class tourism destination, operating all year-round for domestic and international visitors alike.

Among the key areas of work that will be developed, and in partnership with acclaimed designer Mary Reynolds, Westport Estate will be creating a very different and uniquely Irish landscape experience connecting the ecology with Irish heritage through storytelling. The restoration of Westport House and the reimagining of its 300-year history will be a strong feature. In addition, a brand-new immersive visitor experience will be created that tells the legendary story of Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Connacht.

Work has also commenced on the development of a new luxury hotel. Scheduled to open in early 2026, The Grace will replace Hotel Westport.

Our new Westport Adventure opened earlier this year will continue to operate all year round and be a central tourism and activity offering for the people of and visitors to Mayo.

Angelina: What does your role at Westport Estate entail Gemma?

Gemma: It’s really the day-to-day operations - so from camping and glamping to food and beverage, to the House and to Westport Adventure. So we're day-to-day, but it's also about the future, and we can never forget that day-to-day side of things and the people that arrive into our estate, but also that future. 

It's bringing the team along on that journey. We're very lucky to have a very solid team, and obviously, we've Halloween and Winter Wonderland coming up. It's about those seasons and closing one and going into the next. We've just launched our Halloween programme. Winter Wonderland is very busy for us. We have thousands of people coming to it every year - it's a sell-out gig.

Angelina: What drew you to the hospitality sector, Gemma?

Gemma: My father had a massive drive in our business development because that's what we saw. Not taking away anything from my mother, she's equally phenomenal. My sister is working in Miami as a Director of Talent, and my brother has taken over the shop.

At our family gatherings, business comes up and we sit around that table and we talk business. Anyone external to our family, my husband, my brother's wife and my sister's husband, I'd say they think we're cracked because we enjoy it, we never stop. 

My father really has generated that oomph for us because he pushed us. He pushed us to have that drive and that understanding on how important business is, but also how important people are. If we don't have people, we don't have a business. That communication, I think I got that from my mother. The business came from my dad and the people element very much from my mother. She was a primary school teacher, and she taught special education, and she is very heavily involved in victim support. 

We'd have a huge understanding and empathy for people, and it's just an important factor. That's something, as a general manager, that I like to drive to is the importance and culture for our people and the work-life balance - and to be able to balance both. It's a very, very busy industry. And the value that we have on our people and the value we have on our team, that's what we're about. Personally and professionally, it's people who drive me every day.

Angelina: What advice would you give somebody starting out on a business journey?

Gemma: Drive in your belly is the big thing, and to remember that nothing is impossible. If you really, really want it, go for it, because good people that surround you will help you. I've interviewed a lot of people, and it's that person who has that spark and that sparkle in their eye and that drive in their belly to succeed and want to succeed who is usually successful. It's not always about the education or that piece of paper. It's that drive, and it's the willingness to work really hard to be brilliant at what you do. 

It doesn't matter what position you're in, just be brilliant. It's something that I say to my children every day, and they're very small, is just be brilliant at what you do. But it's also being really kind to people and to bring them along, because I was brought along, I got that chance.

Small things are small things, and small things make perfection, and perfection is no small thing.

Angelina: Have you hopes and ambitions for yourself personally, Gemma?

Gemma: I think it’s about being more present in everyday life. I'm a mother, I'm a wife, I'm a friend, I'm a sister, I'm a daughter. Life is short, and it's about remembering what's important. Everything you do, do it well but remember that life is a treasure. 

People say, 'Oh, you're from Cork. Oh God, do you miss being away from home.' I absolutely do. But I know my home is where my husband and my children are, and it's to remember the little things and be happy and be in the moment. I want to remember what's important in life and to have time to hug your children. 

It's just work really hard, but remember that balance as well as what's important. And we lose that. I lose that all the time. For me, it's, if you're kicking the ball out there with your children, just kick that ball and be present. Sometimes that's something that I struggle with is being present and being in that moment but I always try.