PICTURES: 'Fairytale' Laois café has transformed Slieve Bloom village

“Pancakes” was the cheer ringing out in Camross on Friday November 28 as the ribbon was cut on the village's picturesque new community café.

The Poet's Cottage Café opened earlier this year and has quickly become “the beating heart” of the village which has no shop and never had a café. It sells not just fresh pancakes but hot food and drinks with plans to add basic groceries. Full story below photos. Tap NEXT to view them all.

The thatched stone Poet's Cottage has been repurposed into the café with a €250,000 EU Just Transitition grant, led by Camross Heritage Committee.

Managed by Eilish Fox, it employs about a dozen local people and opens daily, as well as introducing an evening “hatch”.

Laois County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh said it “stands as a monument for how small scale community projects can reinvigorate rural areas”, praising the local resilience of Camrossians that is not just evident on the hurling field.

Michael Rainey is the CEO of Laois County Council.

He said Camross' core of resilience is “reflected in the way you pull together.

“What you're doing is a light for a lot of other rural communities,” he said.

Chairperson Fint Scully thanked the Just Transition fund office, all local representatives and all who helped in the project.
Special guest was Mary Fogarty from The Cottage in Loughnane, Tipperary, in thanks for her help.

That café began 13 years ago with Leader funding and is going “brilliantly”.

“We have helped 26 more set up around Ireland now. It's a huge impact on communities, the tea rooms become the heartbeat of the community, they are intergenerational, they give employment, improve mental health of volunteers and combat rural isolation. They unite people in a brilliant way to keep their community together,” she told the Leinster Express.

Committee member Sadie McCartney said it was “an historic day for Camross” and two years in the making.

“I hope it brings tourism. The cottage is like something out of a fairytale, it's just gorgeous,” she said.

Aoife Mangan, Offaly Just Transition officer spoke on behalf of the Laois officer Stephanie Kelly as she had lost her voice on the day.

“The Midlands Just Transition fund is tackling social and economic issues, and the Poet's Cottage Café exemplifies that. It is about cherishing the past and building into the future, built by the community on a solid foundation,” she said.

Historian Paddy Dooley recalls when the cottage was built in the 1990s.

“It was the PP Fr Lalor's brainchild to honour our local poet Patrick Ryan. It was to be a meeting place, a rambling house. It has come to fruition now, that's exactly what it is,” he said.

Treasurer Patsy Ryan said it has become a focal point for villagers and new visitors.

“On Saturday there were 12 or 14 here, I only knew two of them. We are near the bike trails, the mountain walks, and we have a walk around our pitch, there's plenty of activity for everyone.”

Margaret Dollard brings her granddaughter Arabella in after school for a treat.

“It's absolutely brilliant, its a great social thing, the food is tremendous, and the service of Eilish and her staff is all lovely,” she said.

Andrea Scully said the café brings acquaintances in the community together, adding “and we don't have to travel so far for a coffee”.

Geraldine Hough works in the new café.

“It's great for the elderly, they can come sit and have a chat, some wouldn't see people from one end of the week to the next. The chair pilates ladies come in, the playschool come in for pancakes and hot chocolates on Fridays. It's just a good happy vibe,” she said.

The ribbon was cut by PP Fr Brian Griffin, Rev Victor Fitzpatrick and Cllr Walsh, with refreshments for all in the community hall to the tunes of the talented teen musicians in Camross Comhaltas.