Watch: Anna O’Connor on business, music and the dreams that keep driving her forward

For Tipperary entrepreneur and social media influencer Anna O’Connor, the road to running her own business and forging her own path has not been a straight one.

Over the years, she has worked as a hairdresser and dental nurse, performed with a band, raised a son and even entered the world of podcasting and social media.

Today, she runs Aranna, with salons in Nenagh and Templemore, while continuing to develop a growing social media presence.

The north Tipperary woman says the idea of owning a salon first took hold during her teenage years. Her aunt Jody owned a salon in Edinburgh, and Anna spent her summers there, getting an early look at life in the hairdressing industry.

After leaving school, she trained as a hairdresser and worked for several years in a salon in Killaloe. Her career later took a different direction when she moved into dental nursing.

At the same time, music remained an important part of her life. Anna had started performing with a band at the age of 15 and continued to enjoy performing and entertaining.

Becoming a mother also changed her priorities, and the ambition to open her own salon was put on hold. It was during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 that Anna began to seriously reconsider her plans.

A colleague in the dental profession was working towards opening her own practice, and seeing that happen gave Anna the push she needed.

“A dentist I worked with in Nenagh wanted to manifest her own dental surgery, and I wanted to manifest my own business,” Anna recalls.

The encouragement she received was equally important. “I think it’s so important to have people who believe in you,” she says.

Her colleague eventually opened Expressions Dental in Roscrea, while Anna went on to pursue her own ambition. Aranna followed, eventually growing into two salons.

For Anna, however, business is not confined to hairdressing.

In 2023, she launched The Gratitude Attitude Podcast, covering topics such as motivation, gratitude, personal development and making changes in everyday life.

She is also worked on developing her presence online, with her Instagram and TikTok platforms continuing to grow. “Entertainment is in my blood, and I really enjoy it,” she says.

That interest comes from a family background in music and entertainment. Her grandparents previously owned Larkin’s Pub in Garrykennedy, a venue with a strong connection to traditional Irish music.

For Anna, there is clearly much more to come.

What began as a childhood glimpse into her aunt’s salon has grown into a business of her own, while the interests she has carried throughout her life - music, entertainment, creativity and connecting with people - are now opening new doors.

Her passion for music remains an important part of that journey. Alongside her business and podcasting work, Anna continues to explore her talents as a singer and songwriter, bringing another creative side of her personality to the fore.

Her story is a reminder that ambitions do not have an expiry date. Sometimes they simply have to wait for the right moment.

And for Anna, that moment has arrived. With two salons behind her, a growing online presence, a love of singing and songwriting, and plenty of ideas still waiting to be explored, she is embracing every opportunity that comes her way and if her journey so far is anything to go by, there are plenty more chapters still to be written.