Loving tributes have been paid to a Belfast businesswoman who passed away on 7 July 2026 after a short illness.
Known as ‘the woman behind 2Taps’, Brenda O’Neill (61) co-founded the popular tapas restaurant in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter with her late partner Syd, and this week she has been remembered with immense fondness, being described as a wonderful mother, grandmother and business leader, who exuded warmth and a passion for the restaurant she took a chance to open in 2005.
Speaking about his mum, Jarron O’Neill Watson said: “Every restaurant has a story and ours began with our mum and Syd daring to dream. After falling in love with Spain, its people, its food and its way of bringing people together, they wanted to bring a little piece of that to Belfast. That dream became 2Taps.
“My mum gave us so much more than a restaurant. She taught our family, our colleagues, our suppliers and our loyal diners what hospitality really means. Our wee mummy taught us to work hard. Stay humble. Be kind. Look after our people. Never think any job is beneath us. She lived those values every single day.”
Brenda raised three children on her own with resilience. She built businesses, created opportunities and always found more love to give.
Jarron added: “My mum was one of the hardest grafters my sisters and I have ever known but what made her truly special wasn’t how hard she worked – it was how deeply she cared. She could talk to anyone. She made people feel seen. Food was never just food to our mum. It was how she showed love.
“Everything you see in 2Taps today carries a little piece of her. The flowers. The music. The warmth. The welcome. When our mum retired, my sister Victoria and I took over the running of the business. Although our hearts are broken, we’re grateful mum is finally at peace and we will proudly carry on her 2Taps legacy with love.
“Last week mum left us with these words which we will cherish forever. “All three of you were the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole life”. We will continue to do our best for her every day.”
Brenda’s mum ‘The Nanny’, her sisters Denise and Jill, and her children Victoria, Amy and Jarron, are grateful for the support shown to their family and have requsted donations, if desired, be made to Simon Community in Brenda’s memory: https://brendaoneill.muchloved.com/