The Friday Interview:  Jilly Hamilton is very excited about the current series of Fáilte Ireland television adverts, particularly the one highlighting hundreds of surf breaks in Donegal.

"It's a brilliant ad, and the Denny rashers ad as well," she says, recalling the one featuring surfers cooking up breakfast before hitting the waves

It's easy to see why she's excited. More surfing means more business for Jilly and her sister Amy. Last year the two girls set up Onboard just off Dublin's Grafton Street, a shop catering for customers' surf, sailing and snowboarding needs.

But it's a bit more than the traditional outdoor sports shop - it aims to bring a sense of High Street fashion to outdoor pursuits.

The two sisters have combined their passion for fashion and design with their love of sailing and surfing to bring good quality fashionable, yet durable outdoor wear for the keen outdoor sports enthusiast.

Jilly says the shop fills a niche not yet tapped into in Ireland - the cool, outdoor gear that never seemed to be available at home.

"It's the type of stuff you would have bought when you were away - board shorts, bikinis, nicer looking sailing jackets," she explains.

The two sisters are well-qualified for their venture. As well as long years spent sailing on the Shannon and elsewhere, they both studied fashion design at the National College of Art and Design.

Originally they had thought about setting up a clothes boutique, but opted instead for the road less travelled.

"There are boutiques opening up every day. That market is well catered for, but the end of the market that we wanted to get into wasn't catered for at all."

It is proving to be an inspired move. The shop has been trading for more than a year, something of a milestone in the clothes retailing business which can see shops open and close in a matter of months.

"We have done so much better than we expected in our first year," says Amy. "We opened last summer, which was really good. We had our launch party in October and from then onwards, it just kicked into the snow season. I thought that January would be quiet, but it wasn't. In February it was flying, and then it just kicked into the summer again. Even with the miserable weather of the last couple of weeks, it has still been flying."

But the shop is not just about fashion and clothes - as a member of the Global Chandlery network it provides a service where customers can order boating hardware and accessories, giving access to 70,000 products for a boat.

"We have a couple of brands of surfboards and wakeboards in the shop as well, and we will do the same with snowboards when the time comes."

The girls have created a pick-up point in-store, or alternatively they will arrange for your order to be delivered to your home.

"For someone who wants to walk into the shop and walk away with a board, it's there for them, but for someone who wants something specific, we are catering for them as well."

If infectious enthusiasm was all it took to start and run a business, both girls could probably retire very wealthy before they hit 30. But it's been as much about hard graft, teamwork, long hours and family help.

Their father helped with the design of the shop, while their brother worked on the shop fit-out. Their mother helped with the painting and even their grandmother was drafted in to work on the curtains and cushions for the fitting rooms.

Little sister Katie set up a Bebo site for the shop, which turned to be a smart move for a start-up with little to spend on marketing and advertising.

"Within 24 hours, it had 250 hits," says Amy.

A second shop is planned within the next 12 months, but no location has yet been chosen .

The Onboard brand is gaining recognition thanks to sponsorship of a number of surf clubs and sailing societies in colleges. Hoodies with the Onboard logo are proving to be something of a hit among students. However, the girls say they have no plans to launch their own Onboard range of clothing yet.

"We see ourselves expanding with more shops as opposed to doing our own range, but you never know what's going to happen in the future. I wouldn't rule it out," says Jilly.

ON THE RECORD

Names:Jilly and Amy Hamilton.

Ages:29 and 24.

From:Rathgar in Dublin.

Family:Both single.

Education:The two sisters were educated at the High School in Rathgar. Both studied fashion design in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. Before setting up Onboard, Jilly worked as a designer and buyer for Diesel and with boutique Havana in Donnybrook, while Amy had worked in Avoca.

Inspired by:Irish female surfing champion Easkey Britton and her family, who were among the pioneers of surfing in Ireland.

Admire:Their granny, Sheila Morrison. "She's amazing. She has her own iPod, mobile and Bebo page. She's still sailing. She really makes every moment, gets the most out of life and keeps herself young."

Favourite film:Riding Giants - a documentary detailing the origins and history of surf culture and specifically focuses on the art of big wave riding.

Favourite music:Jack Johnson, John Mayer.

Most like:anything to do with a board, water and a bit of sun - surfing, sailing, snowboarding.