An Taoiseach joined Senator Mary Ann O’Brien and her staff in Lily O’Brien’s Newbridge to celebrate the company’s 21st Birthday and its involvement with The Big Egg Hunt for Jack & Jill

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. was in Lily O’Brien’s Chocolate Factory in Newbridge with Senator Mary Ann O’Brien to celebrate 21 years of Lily O’Brien’s and to mark the company’s sponsorship of The Big Egg Hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, of which Mary Ann is the co-founder.

As part of the celebrations on 1st March, the Taoiseach saw firsthand the largest chocolate egg ever made in Ireland created by Lily O’Brien’s in celebration of its title sponsorship of the Big Egg Hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation. Standing 2.4m tall and weighing more than 880kg, the chocolate egg was hand decorated with white chocolate lilies and jewels. As co-founder of the Jack & Jill Foundation, Mary Ann O’Brien explains what it has meant to the company to have been part of the Big Egg Hunt 2013 – “For years we have been trying to find a project to work with Jack & Jill on, and so when the Big Egg Hunt presented itself we just had to be part of it. We’re thrilled to be title sponsor of this magical event which brings culture, art, social responsibility and family fun to Dublin City in the lead up to Easter.”

Today the company employs 120 full time staff and produces up to 60 tonnes of chocolates per week from its repertoire of over 180 different chocolate recipes. For the past five years the company has been Ireland’s top performing indigenous chocolate brand within the premium confectionery category, with consistent 15% market share (Nielsen, 2012: sales in multiple retailers).

Artist Rasher calls for 100 fellow artists to join Ireland’s BIGGEST EVER egg hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and sponsored by Lily O’Brien’s!

Renowned Irish artist Rasher called for 100 fellow artists to showcase their talent and get involved in Ireland’s BIGGEST EVER egg hunt in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation and sponsored by Lily O’Brien’s at a photocall in the Merrion Hotel Dublin today, when Rasher was served with his Egg – quite literally!

Jack & Jill needs 100 artists to sign up by the end of November-2012 to decorate the eggs with a completion date for these works of art of mid-January 2013. All those interested are asked to contact Jack & Jill 045 894538 or thebigegghunt@gmail.com. As well as Rasher, Guggi, Orla de Bri and Graham Knuttel and NCAD students are already on board this nationwide fundraising initiative for Jack & Jill which makes art accessible to everyone.

Rasher was joined today by Senator Mary Ann O’Brien, chairman of Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates and co-founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, as well as Eoin Donnelly, managing director, Lily O’Brien’s.

Photo Colm Mahady/Fennells – Copyright© 2012 Fennell Photography