'A brilliant example of the resilience and determination': Founders of Lisburn banjo business named Start Up Loans Ambassadors for NI
Ríoga Banjos co-founders Paul Conlon and John McClenaghan have been named the British Business Bank’s 2026 Start Up Loans Ambassadors for Northern Ireland
A burgeoning banjo crafting business is striking the right chord thanks to sound support from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans scheme.
Paul Conlon and John McClenaghan, co-founders of Ríoga Banjos, an innovative company redefining the traditional art of banjo making, have been named as the 2026 Start Up Loans Ambassadors for Northern Ireland.
Ríoga Banjos draw inspiration from the instrument’s golden era of the 1920s in the USA while infusing it with a touch of ‘Irish magic’.
Founder partner John McClenaghan is a banjo builder who has been hand-crafting his own instruments for 20 years.
He teamed up with Paul, a ‘banjo mechanic’ for over 30 years and teacher, to create Ríoga Banjos, a bespoke maker of hand-built Irish tenor banjos. The instrument is attracting attention and enjoying a global resurgence in popularity from players and teachers across the globe.
Initially, they had been buying metal components from America, England, and Germany, but these would often run out of stock and, as a result, hold up orders. The solution was to design and produce their own components.
Working with South Eastern Regional College, Paul and John received one-to-one training in CAD design, allowing them to develop bespoke parts inspired by the best banjos of the 1920s.
They received £20,000 of Start Up Loans finance in 2024, which was used to buy parts in bulk and commission expensive moulds, allowing the pair to take their manufacturing process to the next level.
John said: “My interest in banjo making follows a path familiar to many Trad Irish banjo players, having been influenced at a young age by the few recordings available back in the day, including the likes of Barney McKenna of the Dubliners and Liam Farrell in London.
“A decent banjo in those long gone, pre-internet days was often difficult to obtain, far less maintain or repair, and so, my banjo building journey started initially by doing my own adjustments and repairs. I then moved on to banjos which I constructed from imported parts and finally designing and hand-crafting my own instruments.”
Paul added: “My passion for starting up the business came from a genuine love of the instrument and the craftmanship behind it.
“For me, it’s never just been about making banjos, it’s about following a passion and turning it into something meaningful. Seeing someone pick up an instrument we’ve made and connect with it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
This year’s Ambassadors have been invited to pass on their one piece of advice to someone starting a business today.
Paul replied: “The journey into business won’t always be easy, but every challenge is shaping you for where you’re going. As Ambassadors, John and I want to encourage other entrepreneurs to keep believing, keep learning, and keep pushing forward, trusting the process and the vision you started with.”
Paul, John and the other 2026 Ambassadors will be celebrated at a launch event this week, before embarking on a year-long programme of passing on their entrepreneurial knowledge to encourage current and future start up founders.
Louise McCoy, managing director, Start Up Loans, British Business Bank, said: “Every year, our Ambassadors show what is possible when ambitious founders get the right support at the right time. Paul and John’s story is a brilliant example of the resilience and determination we see from entrepreneurs across the UK - turning an idea into a thriving business and creating inspiration for others who are ready to take that first step.”
Minister for Small Business and Enterprise Lord Leong said: “Start Up Loans have helped more than 100,000 entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into real businesses. Behind every business is a founder who took a chance - and the jobs created show how far that ambition can go with the right support.
“This success is a tribute to our determined founders, inspiring ambassadors, and the British Business Bank. I congratulate everyone involved. Giving entrepreneurs the chance to succeed creates opportunities that reach far beyond any one business, benefiting families, communities, and the wider economy.”
This year, the Start Up Loans scheme is encouraging established, successful business owners to pass on the benefit of their experience to the new Ambassadors.
Co-founder of DASH Water, Alex Wright, offers encouragement, advising: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there - start small, get feedback, iterate, and go again. It’s the same model Eric Ries sets out in The Lean Startup, and it’s served us well at DASH.”
Emilie Vanpoperinghe, CEO and Co-Founder of Oddbox also has advice to smaller business owners: “The strongest brands feel authentic. If what you do consistently matches what you believe, people actually feel that and over time that will build a strong brand. So, I encourage the Start Up Loans Ambassadors to be authentic and to be intentional and consistent with what they do with their business.”
Varun Bhanot, the Co-Founder and CEO of MAGIC AI added: “My number one piece of advice for anyone starting a business is you’re going to need grit more than anything, you’ll need it more than being smart, being talented. You need grit. If you work the hardest, you stick at it and you have grit you’ll be just fine.”