The Story of Hencro Games
What began as a single game, now has Kieran (lead game designer) yearning to make bigger and better things. Tooreen native Kieran Henry is a landscaper, stonemason and songwriter by trade so there is no shortage of creative juices flowing through his brain. Hencro Games was founded in 2012 alongside the release of 'Foxes and Chickens'. Hencro was the first board game company to be established in the West of Ireland, being a pioneer for future games releases in the province. What started as an idea between three brothers turned in to a business which has now encompassed the next generation. Kieran's son Ethan has joined the team to bring youth and fresh ideas to the market.
Whilst social media and technology are having a bearing on everyone's life, all at Hencro Games believe there is still a place for board games in every household. It's a way to sit down with family and friends, get away from the screens and have some laughs with the people you love. Board games still retain a magic that can never be replicated from computer games.
Foxes and Chickens: Where the journey began
One cold night in November 2009, Kieran Henry paid a visit to his brother Dermot at their homeplace on a small farm in County Mayo. Dermot had inherited the family farm from generations before, and his prized possessions were his Road Island Red Chickens. On this particular evening, Dermot was especially agitated as one cheeky fox had stolen some of his beloved chickens. From this moment, the board game 'Foxes and Chickens' was born. A game made for family fun, where each player inhabits the role of the fox trying to capture a chicken to bring back to their den.
Brothers Kieran, Dermot and Padraic worked on the game for the next three years, perfecting their ideas and making a prototype they were pleased with. Finally the game was ready, and was launched in September 2012. The game gained interest nationwide, featuring on the Six O'Clock Show, many radio shows including the Joe Duffy Talk Show as well as multiple big tabloids in Ireland. It went on to be a top seller that year in the board game industry. Foxes and Chickens is a game not just made for families, but for everyone who wants an easy to understand game with endless fun and opportunities.