From hospital ward to five thriving businesses: Ballincollig entrepreneur marks milestone

Sensei Café in Cork city centre has celebrated its fifth anniversary, with founder Ryan Lumor marking five business openings in five years and the creation of 18 full-time jobs just a short walk from the ward where he first worked after arriving in Ireland.

When Ryan Lumor arrived in Ireland from the Philippines in November 2016, his work permit was sponsored by Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit, where he took his first job on the ward.

On July 18, he opened FILO First, a needle-free skin and glow studio in Ballincollig.

The FILO Clinic, the nurse-led advanced skin and laser clinic he co-founded in the town, recently celebrated its fourth anniversary.

Sensei Café, his first venture, marks its fifth anniversary this weekend.

FILO first, the newest venture, is a distinct sister brand to The FILO Clinic: An accessible, needle-free skin and glow studio focused on results-driven facial treatments.

The FILO Clinic continues to provide advanced, medically overseen skin and laser treatments at its Ballincollig and Finglas clinics.

Now an Irish citizen, Lumor has grown one cafe into a family of businesses employing 18 full-time staff: Sensei Café, the two FILO Clinics in Ballincollig and Dublin, Mayumi Restaurant, and now FILO first, all built without outside investors.

He said: “My first job in Ireland was on the ward at Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit — they sponsored my permit and gave me my start.

“Everything we have built since has grown out of nursing: The same standards, the same duty of care, applied to every business. 

"Today three of our doors are a short walk from that ward, and 18 people earn a full-time living across our teams. That is what I am proudest of.” 

Christina Lumor, co-director of the FILO Clinic, said: “Not long ago, we were the ones anxiously waiting on our own work permits.

“We never imagined we would one day be the employer — signing permit paperwork for colleagues the way ours was once signed for us. Of everything this week marks, that is the part that means the most.”