Business seems to be improving in a Laois town that was badly hit by the recession.

In recent weeks, Rathdowney has seen the opening of two new cafés.

'Coffee to a Tea' announced their expanding to Rathdowney's main street last March, opening where former coffee shop True Nature recently operated.

This is the business's second location to open, while also operating from a container in Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

Meanwhile, The Brewery pub in Rathdowney announced the opening of an additional café on the premises this May.

Pictured: The Brewery bar and café. Photo: The Leinster Express

The popular pub was inundated with support from locals, sharing photos to social media of their grand opening.

The business is open from 9:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, the café will operate from 9:30am to 3pm.

As all good things come in threes, a coffee trailer also operates from the Square in Rathdowney.

The Square Cup Rathdowney opened during the summer of 2023. 

Locals can enjoy also a tasty breakfast, lunch or dinner in Corcoran's Bar, or The Willow Tree restaurant in Rathdowney's Golf Club, just on the edge of the town.

Several coffee shops have opened and closed in the town; the Commercial Inn IPAS centre, previously Peadar's Inn, once operated as The Kitchen Café on Church street. The former St Vincent de Paul shop also did a brief stint as a café, and now sits idle.

Rathdowney was hit hard by the economic crash of 2008, losing its €42 million shopping centre and several businesses locally within the following five years. 

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In 2023, it was reported that 50% of the former commercial units in the town lay vacant, or were in residential use.

With 12 businesses operating in the town at the time, nine businesses employed five people or less. 

Retail and wholesale provision make up 21% of the overall town mix and 18% of the town centre mix, compared with 22% nationally.

Considering the recent opening of new businesses, along with thriving social groups such as the Men's Shed, Toddler and Baby Group, Rathdowney Arts Group and Tidy Towns Committee, are things improving for Rathdowney?

Rathdowney has all of the key factors that should make for a successful, thriving town.

There is a strong sense of community in the town, where residents will readily support local businesses, festivals, fundraisers and events. 

Pictured: Rathdowney's main street. 

There is not one, but two large supermarket chains in the town; Breslin's Supervalu and Dunnes Stores equally do strong business locally.

It has a manufacturing industry in the heart of the town, where the Dawn Meats beef abattoir has generated employment since 1993.

Rathdowney has features that many larger towns lack, yet it attracts little traffic in comparison to Abbeyleix and Durrow.

Though ten minutes away from Ballybrophy train station, and seven minutes from the M8 motorway, the only form of public transport serving Rathdowney is the town link service to Portlaoise and Roscrea, operating three times daily.

Independent businesses remain strong, with local newsagent The Card Stand, hardware shop Midlands Hardware and AgriSpec, and Keane's service station doing impressive business.

There are two pharmacies in this small town, with salons and four busy pubs.

Fortune's Fashions (est. 1890) and O'Malley's Bar (est. 1911) are the longest running businesses in the town, both continuing to thrive.

Pictured: Rathdowney's town square. Photo: Google Maps

In the 2023 Rathdowney Town Centre First Plan, it was noted that the town was significantly lacking in viable public transport,  along with a 'significant need' of a café, having none at the time.

Locals gave their opinions on what the town was was lacking in.

“More options for families, as we would like to do things for all types of weather, and a nice restaurant for dinner, maybe a baby and toddler group set up too," one person responded.

“It’d be great to have a ‘proper’ coffee shop to pop out to at tea break or to go to on Saturdays. A small restaurant would be
wonderful," another said.

“A decent cafe is badly needed in Rathdowney, there is nowhere to go if you wanted to meet someone at lunch for coffee," another raised.

Since this report, many of these needs have been met. 

"Like many smaller rural towns, Rathdowney experienced significant challenges following the economic crash of 2008," the report read.

"The town centre contains a large number of vacant commercial properties, as well as a number of derelict sites, which have significant impact on the vibrancy and general environment of the town."

Laois County Council planned to take advantage of funding opportunities to create a 'vibrant town' similar to Durrow and Abbeyleix.

"In comparison to Durrow and Abbeyleix in particular, it is clear that the hospitality offer within Rathdowney is significantly lacking," the report read.

"The town lacks a major attraction in the form of Castle Durrow, while the absence of successful hotel means there is no core hospitality anchor within the town.

"The results from the community survey insights indicates that there is a lack of social places to meet in the town centre, such
as a restaurant or a café, as well as the scarcity of accommodation facilities for both locals and visitors.

"The Golf Club is a strong recreational asset for Rathdowney, and is a popular destination for hospitality. However, given its
location outside the town, this does not directly benefit the town centre," the report read.

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49% of 127 local respondents to a 2023 survey indicated that they would spend more time in the town if there were more small shops, cafes, and restaurants available.

"What is clear however is that the town lacks smaller services and businesses, particularly in hospitality, which are key to creating a vibrant place for residents and visitors alike," the report highlighted.

"Successful small businesses such as artisan cafes, restaurants or those focused on arts and cultural offerings, are people driven."

Business in the town has risen and ebbed within the last ten years, but it is clear in 2025 that through community engagement and supporting budding enterprises, Rathdowney is certainly building towards something positive.

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