Katie Burleigh launched Burleigh Street role play village after receiving assistance from Go Succeed
When a County Fermanagh mum struggled to find suitable play spaces for her young son, she decided to create one herself – transforming an everyday parenting challenge into a growing local business.
Burleigh Street, a unique indoor role play village based in Irvinestown, was founded by local teacher and mum-of-two Katie Burleigh, offering a safe, imaginative environment where young children can explore everything from a construction site and farmyard to a coffee shop and beauty salon.
Designed with both children and parents in mind, Burleigh Street allows little ones to play freely in a secure, enclosed setting while adults can relax with a coffee, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy a moment of calm.
Now preparing to celebrate one year in business in May, first-time entrepreneur Katie – who was helped by the government-backed business support service Go Succeed – is reflecting on the inspiration behind the venture.
“I was always looking for somewhere I could take my son that was a bit different – somewhere he could play safely while I could sit and relax. We visited a similar role play concept elsewhere and I just thought, why don’t we have something like this here in Fermanagh?
“That’s really where the idea came from. I wanted to create a space that works for both children and parents – somewhere fun, safe and welcoming.”
Since opening its doors, Burleigh Street has gone from strength to strength, attracting visitors not only from across Fermanagh but from further afield, including neighbouring counties and even international tourists passing through the area.
Katie, who continues to work part-time as a teacher, said the journey into business ownership has been both rewarding and eye-opening.
“Running a business has definitely been a learning curve. There were so many things I hadn’t considered at the start, from pricing and planning to marketing and management.
“Social media in particular has been a journey for me. I underestimated how important it is to be consistent and creative with it. It’s something I’m still working on, but it’s made a huge difference.”
Support from Go Succeed played a key role in helping bring the idea to life, providing guidance in the early stages and specialist advice as the business developed.
“I came across Go Succeed when I was researching support online, and it was one of the best decisions I made. The mentoring really helped me break everything down and understand what I needed to do,” added Katie.
“Having someone to guide you through those early steps, and then connect you with further support like social media mentoring was invaluable.”
Looking ahead, Katie has ambitions to grow the business further, including extending opening hours and potentially expanding the concept to new locations.
“I’d love to develop Burleigh Street and expand what we offer. There’s definitely a demand for more indoor children’s activities locally, especially with our weather. We have lots of ideas for the future – it’s just about taking the next steps.”
Go Succeed is delivered free of charge through all 11 councils in Northern Ireland, supporting entrepreneurs and businesses at every stage of their journey.
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff added:
“Burleigh Street is a fantastic example of how local entrepreneurs are identifying opportunities within their communities and turning them into successful, sustainable businesses.
“Through Go Succeed, we are proud to support individuals like Katie to develop their ideas, build confidence and access the tools they need to grow. Businesses like this not only enhance the local offering for families but also contribute to the wider economy across Fermanagh and Omagh.”
Funded by the UK Government, Go Succeed provides entrepreneurs with access to mentoring, events, grant funding, planning tools and business networks. Visit www.go-succeed.com to learn more.
