Meet the Team

Canadian-born chef and owner Heather Connolly has had a lifelong love affair with food. Raised in a food-obsessed family in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Heather has been creating and experimenting in the kitchen for as long as she can remember.

While studying Fine Arts at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, she spent her days in class and her evenings in busy bistro kitchens. She also hosted weekly Sunday dinners for her friends—always dreaming of one day opening a café of her own. After a short career in the arts, Heather packed her bags for Ireland in search of adventure, inspiration, and a new chapter in food.

That chapter continues to unfold. Since moving to Ireland, Heather earned a Bachelor of Business and Culinary Arts from GMIT and went on to become Head Chef at The Gourmet Tart Co. in Salthill, followed by Executive Chef at the acclaimed Upstairs @ McCambridge’s in Galway.

In 2015, she made good on her dream when she took over Builín Blasta Café & Bakery in Spiddal. Her mission is simple: keep it fresh, keep it wholesome, and keep it tasty. That ethos has carried the business from a busy café and bakery to a growing retail brand and full-service kitchen known for flavour-forward dishes and quality ingredients. It was while experimenting in the café kitchen that Heather created the first batch of what would become Builín Blasta’s signature product—Smoked Onion Mayo—now an award-winning condiment available nationwide.

Behind Heather is a dedicated, driven team who help bring the Builín Blasta vision to life every day:

Eimear Killian, Director and co-owner, joined the business in 2021 and has been instrumental in driving its growth. With a strong background in hospitality and a deep passion for local food,

Eimear has helped expand Builín Blasta beyond the café—building out a strong retail offering in-store and growing a busy corporate and event catering business serving Spiddal, Connemara and Galway City. Eimear’s warm, personable style ensures that every guest, customer, and client feels welcomed and valued.

Jenya Hardziyuk, originally from Belarus, has been working alongside Heather since 2011. As our Production and Logistics Manager, Jenya plays a central role in the day-to-day operation of the business—from managing our condiment production line to ensuring seamless deliveries to retailers. His work ethic and precision are vital to keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Damien O’Malley, our Head Chef, leads the kitchen team with creativity, calm, and a strong commitment to quality. With a deep respect for ingredients and a focus on seasonal cooking, Damien brings energy and expertise to every dish served at Builín Blasta. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast, fresh-baked lunch special, or canapés for 100, his passion for flavour shines through.

EOLAS FAOIN CHEF AGUS FOIREANN S’AICI

Rugadh an chef agus úinéir Heather Flaherty i gCeanada agus tá scil aici sa bhia ó bhí sí ina gasúr óg. Tógadh í in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan do theaghlach atá gafa go mór le cúrsaí bia, agus chomh fada lena cuimhne bhí sí riamh i mbun miasa a chruthú agus a thriail.

D’oibrigh Heather i gcistineachaí i mbialanna beaga agus caiféanna le linn di a bheith i mbun staidéir ar Na Mínealaíona in Ollscoil Simon Fraser in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mar iníon léinn, thugadh sí cuireadh dá cairde teacht chun a tí chuile Dhomhnach le haghaidh dinnéir, agus dúirt i gcónaí go mbeadh a caifé féin aici lá eicínt. Tar éis di tréimhse ghearr a chaitheamh ag obair leis na mínealaíona, chroch sí a seolta le dul go hÉirinn. Ba é a bhí uaithi ná dul ag taisteal agus ag cócaireacht agus dul ar thóir eachtraíochta thar lear.

Tá an tóir eachtraíochta fós idir lámha aici. Ó bhog sí go hÉirinn, fuair Heather céim Baitsiléir sa Ghnó & sna hEalaíona Cócaireachta ó GMIT, agus ansin rinneadh Chef Ceannasaí di ar oscailt an Gourmet Tart Company i mBóthar na Trá, agus ansin Chef Feidhmeannach ar oscailt na bialainne Upstairs @ McCambridge’s. Áiríonn Heather fós bainistiú na bialainne agus an delicatessen in McCambridge’s ar cheann de na dúshláin is mó a bhí roimpi fós, agus ar cheann de na héachtaí is mó a bhfuil sí mórálach as.

Téann grá Heather don bhia i bhfeidhm go mór ar dhaoine eile. Is deacair stop a chur lena cuid cabaireachta faoi chomhábhair, soláthraithe, miasa nó béilí, agus is geall le galar an díograis seo atá aici. Misean dá cuid atá ann an t-aoibhneas a bhaineann sí as an gcócaireacht a roinnt leis an domhan mór, gan trácht ar bhia breá, folláin agus sláintiúil a ithe. Mar gheall air seo, ba éasca an cinneadh é glacadh leis an tairiscint dul ar an gcoiste don chéad Féile Bia na Gaillimhe in 2011, agus rinneadh Cathaoirleach di in 2014. Cuid lárnach dá gairm bheatha é an fhéile a mhúnlú agus é úsáid mar ardán chun a díograis thógálach a roinnt.

Fíoraíodh aisling Heather in 2015 nuair a ghlac sí úinéireacht ar a caifé féin. Ghlac sí ceannas ar an mBuilín Blasta Café & Bakery sa Spidéal – dar léi, áit idéalach atá ann lena grá don bhia a roinnt. An mana atá aici i gcónaí ná an bia a bheith úr, a bheith folláin, agus a bheith blasta. Oibríonn sí go crua le cinntiú go bhfuil chuile mhias, arán agus císte blasta agus go ndéantar freastal ar chuile chustaiméir le fáilte cuí croíúil.

Tá foireann iontach chefanna agus freastalaithe aici ag cabhrú léi a haisling a fíorú. Tá Jenya Hardziyuk ón mBealarúis ag obair le Heather ó bhí 2011 ann, agus tá sí anois i mbun an chistineach sa Bhuilín Blasta a rith faoi luas lasrach le cinntiú go ndéantar freastal ar chustaiméirí in am.

Is í Heather an chéad duine a déarfaidh go mbíonn forbairt i gcónaí á déanamh ar an mBuilín Blasta Café & Bakery. Ón tús sa gcisteanach garraí go dtí an biachlár agus stíl an fhreastail a bhíonn i gcónaí ag forbairt – oibríonn an fhoireann go crua le go bhfoghlaimeodh agus go bhfeabhsódh siad le chuile theagmháil a dhéantar le custaiméir, le cinntiú go bhfaightear eispéireas itheacháin atá fáiltiúil agus anamúil.