A young woman from Tullysaran has made the land of Pyramids and Pharaohs her home, creating a business for herself abroad that now offers others the chance to enjoy all of the beguiling riches that she herself has succumbed to.
Twenty-five-year-old Caoimhe Fanthorpe grew up in County Armagh where she immersed herself in every aspect of the city’s culture. She enjoyed speaking Irish at home, attending Armagh GAA’s home games at the Athletic Grounds and – as many ex-pats can attest – a good old Sunday roast.
The former St Catherine’s College pupil graduated from her degree in Irish and Communications at Galway University before going on to work in Irish medium schools – tutoring others in the language – before heading to America for her first year-long stint abroad.
Caoimhe returned from the United States in 2023 with a view of eventually going back but a family holiday to sunnier climes soon put paid to her American dream.
Speaking to Armagh I, Caoimhe explained: “We went on a family holiday to Egypt and during that time I was so intrigued by the country. I wanted to learn more.
“I went back to Ireland and started to make plans to move over on a short term basis – I moved over two months later.
“Initially, I was just playing it by ear to see if everything was as I had imagined. I didn’t fully know if I’d want to be there on a long term basis.”
The adventurous Armachian inevitably fell in love with the largely desert-covered land and, in time, it gave her another love – her now fiancé Mohamed.
Mohamed – who is from Aswan – had worked for years in the tourist industry in Egypt. It was something they talked about regularly and with fervour.
Caoimhe had been searching for work in both the travel industry and in communications but had quickly learned that most of these jobs were “poorly paid”.
It was disappointing, it was the area she had hoped to build her career. But, she felt there was a solution.
Explained Caoimhe: “I decided if I wanted to have a better life there I was going to have to think outside the box.
“I spoke with a lot of people who had worked for years in the tourist industry in Egypt – including my fiancé – we agreed that I would design a website and he would source suppliers and see how it went.”
Together, the pair set up an excursions and airport transfers company, Elegantium Trips Hurghada.
It took the duo just four months to prepare their business for their first guest’s arrival and then one month later they had their next.
She said of the fledgling business: “Over time and a lot of trial and error with marketing etc, we now have a small yet steady flow thankfully.
“We do excursions and airport transfers in Hurghada – which has direct flights from Belfast – such as boat trips, quad biking in the desert, Bedouin village visits, day trips to the pyramids and Valley of the Kings, Scuba diving and snorkelling.
“I enjoy the work I do as I meet with people from all over every day.”
As is the case for many entrepreneurs, they encountered the odd stumbling block or two in the early days, which they have learnt from and developed their business around.
Said Caoimhe: “Some laws around businesses are very strict, so to get the word out and find the correct clientele, it was hard.
“For example, it is illegal to give out brochures in the street. If you want to sell trips within the grounds of a hotel they charge extortionate rates monthly, meaning we needed to increase our own prices.”
She remains resilient, however, and the experience has not deterred her.
In advice to others with entrepreneurial dreams abroad she adds: “Try to network with reliable sources as much as possible because word of mouth and personal experiences are so much more reliable.
“And please learn the basic customs and culture of the country before going as it will stand by you when dealing with people and even when trying to understand the mentality of the people.”
The young business-owner says she is “comfortable” now in Hurghada, where she has become “accustomed to a different but happy life” having developed strong friendships there.
Of course she misses her home comforts from time-to-time and the “craic” with friends, but says she no longer lives for the weekend because her day to day in Hurghada is just so much more conducive to a healthy work-life balance.
Added Caoimhe: “There is good weather all year around.
“The nightlife is brilliant as it’s not all bars and nightclubs. There are late night cafes which have been great for my health.
“I love the kind people, the buzz and not having the feeling every week that I’m waiting on the weekend to come around because I enjoy my daily routine so much more.”
