Creating a stir in rural Kilkenny - New café in Muckalee

Beautiful, sweeping vistas across rural Kilkenny, a hot cup of tea, comfortable seat and good company - what more could you want from a café. Well, in one new café not only will you be treating yourself, but you’ll be supporting the local community when you buy that coffee and cake!

Muckalee Community Café is set to open its doors next week and as the voluntary endeavour prepares to launch, the place has been a hive of activity this week with furniture being set out, training for the volunteers and the final touches to the outside landscaping.

It’s part of a new trend in rural communities to bring life back to them. Already a success in locations like Windgap and Ballyhale, the community café and shop combo is now set to be a hit in Muckalee.

Like the other communities, the north Kilkenny village experienced the loss of services and population. But they are fighting back and winning! The café will join the community creche as well as the thriving school and busy local agri supply business in a busy, central cluster of activity.

Brand new, the café is located in a building that is already a local landmark. The community centre was first opened in 1987.
A vision of local priest, the late Fr Martin Ryan worked with a local committee to see the building with a handball and racquetball court. Most of that group of volunteers are, thankfully, still around today and still involved in the centre committee.

“Over the last number of years the challenges of rural Ireland have come to the fore with a lack of services, a lack of a meeting place,” said Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick. “This was the challenge for the committee.”
They consulted with the local community who identified the upgrading of the centre was needed.
That has come to fruition with the shop and café, as well as upgraded squash and handball facilities.

The centre will also now be a perfect fit for a community hub, with space for event and meetings.
As part of the renovation the center has added a remote working hub. Equipped with four desks and a board table, it’s a perfect spot to do a few hours or a few days work.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said the committee engaged with Kilkenny County Council’s area engineer, Philippe Beubry, and the first door to knock on for funding was Kilkenny Leader Partnership (KLP). He had a word of thanks for the support from KLP’s Conor Cleere. Funding is also from the HSE and the local community, who have given “amazing support.”

Fundraising will have to continue for “a few years” to pay for the project. The shop and café will be fully staffed by volunteers.
“In the coming days we are opening what is a splendid facility for the parish of Muckalee,” Cllr Fitzpatrick said.
“If Windgap can do it, we can do it,” Maura Tynan, committee secretary said.

It’s currently all-hands-on deck to get ready for opening. Keeping an eye on things inside the building are Maura Tynan and Mary Kelly, committee treasurer - from buying cups and training on the new machines to the earlier grant application paperwork and interior decorating. Outside Chairman Ger Murphy and vice-chair Billy Murphy are on-hand as liaison between the committee and developer.

The committee employed an architect and design team lead by Jenny Nolan for the project and John Grey was the successful bidder for the building tender.

“We were at the stage that this place needed a lot of renovation because it was 30 years old. The concept of a shop and coffee shop came at the right time for us,” Maura said.

“The beauty of this project is that the people who built this centre are here at the start and finish of this project,” Cllr Fitzpatrick added. “It’s a testament to the desire of the people of the parish to keep and develop the community for generations to come.”
Muckalee Community Café will open on May 29, then every Wednesday to Friday, with a half day on Saturday.