Published: Wednesday, 18th August, 2010 5:00pm

Cootehill town creating waves

by Sean McMahon

Leading by example in Cootehill - Three businesses grab national acclaim - Fergus Murphy, Murph's Bistro; Don Smith, Smith's Bar and Niall O'Leary, O'Leary Bakery and Delicatessan. Photo: Brian Mulligan
Pic by==: 97

If you are looking for top bakery products, fine drink in a unique atmosphere and a wonderful restaurant experience at affordable prices, then the town of Cootehill is the place to go. Three dynamic businesses have received prestigious national recognition and plaudits in recent times and The Anglo-Celt decided to visit the town on Friday and meet the three people behind the success stories - Fergus Murphy, Niall O'Leary and Don Smith.

The proprietor of Murph's Bistro at Market Street in Cootehill, Fergus Murphy, told The Anglo-Celt that they have scooped the 'Best Casual Dining in County Cavan for 2010', awarded by the Restaurant Association of Ireland and the Irish Independent newspaper.

A clearly delighted Fergus said these awards are akin to the Oscars of the restaurant and food sector.

Together with his dynamic wife Susan they run a 60-seater family restaurant. Fergus turns out the exquisite food from the kitchen while Susan does an excellent job in 'front of house'.

"We have a very wide and extensive menu and also do mouth watering dishes featuring kangaroos, zebra and camel." It was down to featuring such exotic dishes that Murphy's Bistro came to the attention of John Murray on the RTE Radio One 'Business Show'. Fergus appeared on that show recently to fit in with a feature the programme was running on Australia. "I got a great plug for the restaurant and the town was also helped from a business prospective," he said.

Esteemed restaurant reviewer and a regular on 'The Restaurant' on TV, Paolo Tullio also visited Murph's and gave it an excellent review. "The support in the town has been fantastic since we opened in 2006 and we have gone from strength to strength," said Fergus who worked in numerous Michelin Star restaurants in England.

Meanwhile, Niall O'Leary from O'Leary's Delicatessen, wines and fine food emporium on Bridge Street told The Anglo-Celt that they were thrilled at being accepted in the Bridgestone Guide. This is a very prestigious listing and Niall said they were thrilled with the fact that they have been featured.

"It is the first such plaque to be placed on such an outlet in the town and it is great to have it there," said Niall.

"We make a lot of our own products including jams, chutneys and we feature a wide range of Irish cheeses, salami and we also stock chocolate from Stradone, bacon from Cavan, ice-cream from Drum and chutney from Virginia and Ballinagh," he added.

The store is also stocking wines imported by Irish people with local Cavan connections. O'Leary's Bakery has been up and running for the past 70 years and it is a third generation business in which Niall's father Paddy is still very active.

The baking process usually commences at 7.30am and everything hits the shelves super fresh. There is a great reaction to all the local produce and the people are responding with great enthusiasm as the footfall shows on a constant basis.

Don Smith's Pub in Bridge Street has long since become a landmark for social interaction in a relaxed atmosphere. The premises date all the way back to the 1700s and is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.

The expansive premises recently got a five-star rating from Pub Spy in the Sunday World, and it was only one of three pubs in all of Ireland that picked up that prestigious status in 2009.

"When Pub Spy came into the town of Cootehill, he said it was busy town with a great atmosphere, which is unusual to see today in small market towns. It is good to see out business and all the others being recognised at a national level, for excellence. Very few towns pick up three awards in such a short space of time," said Mr. Smith.

Pub Spy talked about the clientele, the ambience, the cleanliness and the excellent drink. It is an old traditional pub with screens in the lounge for sports. It is also recognised as a fine traditional music pub and some of the finest entertainers play there. They hope to get a spin off from the fleadh. Don has entertainment organised and has also hired a bus to ferry people from Cavan. "We would be encouraging people who are staying in Cootehill to come back here and enjoy the sessions."

Cootehill did not benefit hugely during the Celtic Tiger era, said Don and it has not declined anything significantly during this down turn. "The town is busy and while there are some empty shops, we will strive to have them filled in the years ahead," he said.

Mr. Smith added that the people of Cootehill and the hinterland support the retailers in the town who offer individual attention, unlike multi-nationals.

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