There was a new baby in the house from August that year, and our hands were full. Very full. Like most first-time parents to a newborn, there was no manual. We were at sea, a bit lost, and learning on the job every single day.

Closing up shop hurt. More than I probably admitted at the time. But I knew where my focus needed to be. My wife, our growing family, and just taking care of everything that goes with a new baby. Other interests also quietly took root. The previous year I had started a local Clean Coasts group, driven by frustration at how bad the litter problem had become on some of our local beaches. Bringing a child into the world sharpens your perspective. You start noticing things differently. You want to leave the place a little better than you found it.

Our second and third children arrived and suddenly we were a very busy house, and Christ we still are. Taxi Dad and Mam, constantly on the road, ferrying children to activities, matches, birthdays, events. Life is loud, full, chaotic, and wonderful.

The creative itch never really went away. The urge to design, to play with the Irish language and culture, stayed with me. But capacity is everything, and for a long time, it just wasn’t there. Until now.

Time has a way of teaching you things, sometimes gently, sometimes not. I made many mistakes. Many, many mistakes. I received plenty of advice too - some good, some less so. Somewhere along the way, I grew. My tastes changed. My understanding deepened. The original vision that sparked T-léine.ie back in 2012 is still there, but the mission, and how we get there, looks different now.

I’m still figuring a few things out. But enough has fallen into place to say this with confidence: we’re getting ready again. Not rushed. Not forced. Just ready.

Until then,
Proinsias.