A bustling community café
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Súil Eile Community Café is a social enterprise located in the heart of Kilnaleck, run by the community and volunteers.
The café was founded and run by the late Monica McCormick, her husband Eugene Farrelly and Eugene Kiernan - keen to promote the cúpla focal and provide a hub for the community.
Súil Eile has become so much more than a place to drink coffee with friends, it is also a venue for artists to showcase their talents. Local artwork adorns the walls of the café and, while it is for sale, it complements the homely atmosphere the founders have created there. Súil Eile do not take any commission on the artwork.
Local beekeepers also sell their honey there, with other local producers also selling their wares in the café. The space has also become a focal point for locals to speak a cúpla focal, with Irish speakers both new and native gathering there to speak as Gaeilge.
Community is at the centre of the café, both inside and out. After covering the cost of running the café, they put funds towards initiatives in the town such as establishing a community garden, and funding bursaries to send young people to the Gaeltacht.
“We’re doing very well, we’re funding children going to the Gaeltacht, and any sort of groups that need funding in the area. If we have a few bob, we’ll give it to them,” Eugene Farrelly told the Celt. The café began just one week before the pandemic hit in 2022, a difficult time to open a café the Celt mentions.
“In actual fact, it was a very good time to set up because we did outside dining and takeaways,” Eugene responded. Meanwhile the café is known for its legendary, buttery scones, freshly baked bread, all day breakfast and delicious sandwich specials.
It’s little surprise the café was celebrated as Cavan’s ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2022.
The café will commence evening dining at the end of October on a Friday and Saturday night, and they will have volunteers bring people home if they don’t want to drive. With different décor on these nights, customers will be able to choose from and enjoy a fine selection of Italian cuisine.
The founders also have several other projects in mind, such as establishing a small bakery in the town.
“We have several projects in mind,” Eugene shared. “Small towns are under attack, there’s a lot of derelict premises. We reckon, if we could get a couple of projects going, that other towns could look at us and think: ‘We could do the same’. Things can be done if you just stand up and do them yourself.”
The café is currently open from 10am to 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday, with this set to change in the coming weeks with the introduction of their new evening dining.