Entrepreneur

aeneas o’hara

Let's get to know the incredibly charming entrepreneur of "Away from the Ordinary" – a travel company he founded in 2017. Besides curating tailor-made Scotland escapes, Aeneas knows good whisky and how to best answer the question, what Scotsmen are wearing underneath their kilt.

The Sturgheons: Aeneas, please tell us a little bit about yourself! Who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

Aeneas O’Hara: I spent my childhood on the very remote and beautiful Ardnamurchan peninsula in the Scottish Highlands. By remote, I mean that our nearest neighbour was 4 miles away and my school had only 15 pupils in it in total, from ages 5 to 12. Since then I have lived, studied and worked on different continents. In 2017 I left my job in Financial Technology to set up a bespoke Scottish travel company called “Away from the Ordinary”.

What does Scotland mean to you?

I consider myself incredibly lucky to be Scottish. Having lived and travelled abroad I think it helps me really appreciate just how beautiful, historic and friendly Scotland is. It is a country of legends, romance, mist covered hills, martyred heroes and heroines. However, it is also a modern country full of ambition, tolerance and forward-looking people and companies. It is a country that should be on everyone’s bucket list to get lost in. It gets under your skin and we find that our clients feel a connection to Scotland after their trip.

What do you think is the most beautiful place in your home country?

That is an impossible question to answer. There are some very famous places in Scotland that are incredibly beautiful but there are also lots of unknown glens that are ‘undiscovered’ and stunning. I do love Ardnamurchan where I was brought up and the Scottish islands are truly magical places. In the Highlands just drive down the narrowest road you can find and that will usually lead you somewhere really beautiful. 

Tell us about "Away from the Ordinary"? How did it all start? Was there an impulse?

I found during all my travels I was always recommending places to stay, where to eat and what visit in Scotland. I enjoyed helping people plan their trips to Scotland depending on their interests and making sure they found the hidden gems. So, I decided to leave my job in Financial Technology to set up my dream job and become a full-time ‘Scottish Ambassador’. “Away from the Ordinary” curates tailor-made escapes to Scotland based on people’s passions. Whether it is someone’s 1st trip to Scotland or their 10th, we plan an amazing trip for them. With our list of contacts, we can open up doors to castles that are closed to the public, introduce you to the people that make the whisky or find you the perfect guide based on your personality.

For you, what are the most beautiful whisky distilleries in Scotland? 

Strathisla is considered one of the most photogenic with its traditional pagodas. I personally prefer distilleries by the sea like the ones on Islay (8 distilleries on that small island) or in the remote Highlands like anCnoc. The distillery with the best view is the Isle of Raasay distillery whose window looks over the water to the Isle of Skye. 

On a whisky with Sean Connery or Ewan McGregor? Why?

Out of those two it would 100% have to be Sean Connery because he had already lived a life before becoming famous. I think most Scotsmen would choose Billy Connolly though who in the 1970’s and 1980’s was the funniest man in the world and changed comedy for everyone for ever. He is someone that swears like a pirate’s parrot but is still considered charming by 80-year-old grannies. He epitomises some of the best Scottish qualities of humanity and humour. 

And what whisky would you offer then?

Well, Billy has now swapped tea for whisky but back in the day, he did enjoy a drink. I imagine him in the 1960’s in Glasgow drinking a blend like Black & White. So, I would find an old 1960’s bottle of that at a whisky auction and serve us a couple of drams. If you can get your hands on old Black and White whisky with the spring cap then it is fantastic stuff. Before single malts became popular all the best whisky went into blends.

With which attributes would you describe yourself? 

Entertaining, hospitable and passionate with great attention to detail. 

What is your most creative answer to the question "What is a Scotsman wearing underneath his kilt?"

The polite way to ask is: “Are you wearing it in the traditional fashion or not?“. It originated with Scottish military uniforms in the 18th century, leading to the invention of expressions such as "go regimental" or "military practice" for wearing no underwear.

Where would you like to live if it was not Scotland?

Menorca. My wife and I were there in September 2019 and had the most relaxing holiday. There was an abundance of wildlife and the pace of life seemed just right.

What does beauty mean to you?

Nowadays beauty is a moment in time. A moment that you are truly living in and appreciating. It could be a sunset, a song, a painting, an incredible whisky, a wild swim, laughter with your best friend or your soulmate. It is an intense moment of pleasure that you do not even think about putting on social media because you are truly living in the moment and not recording the moment. That is beauty in today’s world.

Do you have a motto or a wisdom?

At the same time I started my business I read a Nelson Mandela quote that I have since adopted: “I never lose, I either win or learn.” There is also a great connection between Mandela and Scotland. In 1981 when he was in prison and condemned as a terrorist by many governments around the world, Glasgow awarded him the freedom of the city. This was 9 years before he was freed from prison. In 1986, Glasgow brought more attention to Mandela by changing the name of St George's Place in the city centre to Nelson Mandela Place. The South African consulate-general was based in that square, so their address suddenly had the name of the country's most famous political prisoner on it.

What are your next topics or projects?

At this exact moment during Coronavirus, we are trying to keep people entertained via our newsletter with Scottish movies to watch and recipes to cook at home. In the background we are making sure we are ready for 2021 when travel starts up again. Making sure we connect with all our fantastic Scottish suppliers and keep searching for new or improved experiences for our clients.

Anything we forgot to ask? Any last thoughts?

I would like to say that it was an absolute pleasure for Morgan and I to serendipitously meet you both in the Highlands of Scotland and thanks so much for asking to interview me and for the great questions. My advice to visitors to Scotland is, try to allocate time to walk in the hills and spend time on a boat. Just take your time, don’t try and see it all in one go and enjoy it!

www.awayfromtheordinary.com

Scotland, April 2020. | Interview by The Sturgheons with Aeneas O’Hara. | Photos by Morgan Fitzsimons and Aeneas O’Hara.