I just hope they don't read this article back in Cork. I grew up in Cork, went to school there and then on to college. We opened the Limerick store in 2002, and since then Limerick has certainly been very good to me. It was a relatively easy move to make. From the very start, Limerick people have been very welcoming and today I have to admit that I feel very much at home here.

I inherited my love for the business from my father, as he did from his parents. The jewellery business has been in the family since 1948 – we're celebrating our Diamond Anniversary this year - so I was brought up with it. It is very much a family business with my father, uncle and cousin also directors of the company, although they are based in Cork.

I suppose at the time, many of my friends saw it as a very glamorous job. I headed off to Antwerp, Switzerland or London to learn the different aspects of the jewellery business. However, when I finished college I did go the more conventional route for a while and decided to take a break from jewellery and armed with my Commerce Degree I moved to Dublin and worked in Corporate Banking for a couple of years.

When I started in Limerick six years ago it was a particularly daunting situation, as every face through the door was new. It takes time to build up a new business, and in Limerick at that time, we were the new kid on the block. Today it's very different however. It's great to be so familiar with the customers today, to have the chat and of course the banter which is important when buying an item as personal as jewellery.

Styles and tastes are forever changing in the jewellery business. In recent years the Italians have inspired many exciting designs and new uses of different gem stones and precious metals. Attendance at Italian fairs has proved essential to keep on top of changing trends. However, the last couple of years, the need to travel further afield to places like Hong Kong and New York has been important to provide our customers with unique pieces not otherwise available in Europe.

Rowing is my main sport I'm still involved in it today. Of course, having attended Pres, a school renowned for its rugby, it was inevitable that this would become a passion of mine. It's great that the sport is so strong in Limerick.

I've dabbled a little with the guitar. Other than following the Formula One circuit, music has also occupied a lot of my time. I played the piano for many years.

Someone's choice in jewellery is very personal so of course it will tell something about them. The more outgoing the person they tend to wear more statement pieces – larger pieces that mirror their own personality. You'll also see more reserved people going for the classical piece, and of course the trend-setters have to have the most up to the date brands on offer. But having said that you can very often be surprised with what people buy – in many cases, completely bucking the trend.

An essential item of jewellery for every guy is a nice watch. My current favourite is the Rolex Submariner. However, a pair of gold cufflinks which I received to mark my graduation are possibly most important to me.

I never tire of looking at jewellery. The jewellery business is not one that stays static. You are never looking at the same jewellery for too long. Over the past few years new jewellery pieces from Italy, Hong Kong, New York etc. have ensured there is always excitement in the range.

I'm amazed a lot of the time when guys come in knowing exactly what their fiancée to-be wants, and very often they are spot on! In many other cases the guy looks for advice and we manage to steer him down the right path after a few questions such as...does she prefer yellow or white ? Has she ever mentioned a Solitaire etc..It goes without saying that choosing an engagement ring is a very important time in any girls life, and so the reaction is always going to be very special. But, the excitement is undeniable when she first tries on and experiences the allure of a diamond ring.

You'd be amazed at the pet names people give their partners these days. The inscriptions can often be very humorous and there have been some funny stories too. There was a customer the first year we opened who decided to propose in his fiancee's favourite restaurant and asked the manager to freeze the diamond ring inside an ice-cube. The idea was that the ice-cube would melt at just the right moment and fall to the bottom of the glass. Unfortunately he didn't realise just how long it would take for the ice cube to melt and sat nervously for a lot longer than he had originally planned. It all worked out though and they are now two years married! In fact I've been witness to three marriage proposals in-store so far!