Just Connect West

Una Burns

Director and Co-Owner of Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen

Una Burns is the Director and Co-Owner of Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen - the family-run pub that captured global attention following the release of its viral Christmas advert in December 2023. A former secondary school teacher, Una graduated from St Mary’s University College, Belfast with a First Class Honours degree in Religion and History and spent ten years in the classroom before making the decision to leave teaching behind in 2021 to help run her family’s business in Co. Fermanagh. When Una took over the day-to-day running of Charlie’s during the Covid-19 pandemic, the business had no website, a dormant Facebook page and no presence on Instagram or TikTok. Since then, Charlie’s has evolved into one of Ireland’s most recognised pub brands online, building a social media following of over 245,000 people and being featured on Sky News, CNN, UTV and BBC among others. Since 2021, the family-run venue has won multiple awards including Ulster Pub of the Year 2022, Best Live Music Bar at the Northern Ireland Country Music Awards and Best Use of Social Media in Ulster at the Irish Restaurant Awards. Una also attended the Houses of Parliament in 2024 and 2025 to accept awards recognising Charlie’s as a Community Pub Hero. Under Una’s leadership, the business has doubled its turnover and tripled its staff, despite her having no formal business background. At Just Connect West, Una will share her journey from teaching to hospitality, the story behind Charlie’s viral Christmas advert and charity campaign which raised over £23,000 in less than one month, and the lessons she has learned about storytelling, community, resilience and growing a modern business in a rural town.