'The dream' - New café in Carlow offers up coffee, cakes and conversation As Gaeilge
Owner Patrice D Gallagher says the support from locals has been “unbelievable”
A new café offering coffee, cakes and conversation As Gaeilge has opened its doors in Carlow this week and owner Patrice says the support from locals has been “unbelievable”.
Originally from Mountmellick in county Laois, Patrice D Gallagher was initially hesitant at the commute she would have to undertake everyday, but with a lack of available premises in Portlaoise where she now lives, Carlow was the next best option.
“I live in Portlaoise but there were just no available venues at all,” said Patrice, “My husband said to me what about Carlow, but I wasn’t sure about the commute.
“I went to college in Carlow. I did my degree in St Patrick’s College studying social care, along with a study with the college, and I job coached here as well so I thought, you know, I always loved Carlow and it’s only half an hour down the road so I said I’d give it a go.
“I saw this premises on Daft.ie,” Patrice continued, “So I rang the landlord to tell him my idea, and he said ‘absolutely’.
“He had lots of correspondence from people wanting to open up different businesses like phone shops and vape shops, so he was 100% behind me. And here we are, three months later.”
Patrice also enlisted the help of the Carlow Enterprise Board who were a “great help” with advice on starting your own business and the different supports that were available.
Having worked in social care, further education and with a background in HR, Patrice says it was always her dream to open a little book shop.
“The corporate world became kind of tough,” she said, “and I don’t have any small kids so I thought, if I’m going to do it, I better do it now.
“A bookshop was always sort of a dream,” she added, “On the tough days I would say, maybe if I just open a little bookshop, life would be easier.”
The idea for an Irish language café/bookshop was born from a friend’s idea who encouraged Patrice, who admits to be an intermediate Irish speaker, to find places where people speak As Gaeilge every day.
“The two staff members here today are fluent, but I like to think of myself as intermediate,” she said, “I have been really engaging with Glór Cathairleach so it’s really pushing the Irish language.
“My husband is from Gwedore, and my friend is a Gaelgoir, "she continued, “So I started doing this Irish course.
“My friend told me that I needed to find places where they speak Irish and use it day to day but unfortunately there wasn’t any place like that around me so she said ‘there’s an idea for you’.
“An Irish language coffee and bookshop…wouldn’t that be the dream? And like that, the idea was born.
“I went to meet my husband for breakfast that morning,” she continued, “ I said to him I have an idea, and once I get an idea I'm gone, there’s absolutely no stopping me.
“I asked him to at least look into it and he said absolutely, and looking into it became, we’re doing it.”
Recognising the risk that comes with opening a new business, Patrice says it wouldn’t be possible without the love and support she has received from her friends and family.
“It’s a huge risk but I kept my outgoings small, reigned in all of my family…if things didn’t work out I still have a good career behind me, it’ll be fine.
“My husband is fantastic! He's got a good day job so he’s keeping things ticking over, but his support has been phenomenal.
“He works long hours but he’s been here every Saturday and Sunday, painting, fixing, patching things up, and I can’t talk enough about my Dad who is so handy, so any repairs or anything that was needed, he came down and spent hours here.
“Friends and family reigned in to help me and my budget was quite small so they helped me with all of it.”
Patrice says she “can’t get over the support” from the locals in Carlow. From people sharing the café’s content on social media to local business engagement, the reception has been “unbelievable”.
Keen to support local, Patrice engages with several businesses and suppliers across Carlow including children’s book author Vonnie Bolton, Christine Scully from Scented Glow, Old Carlow Photos and Sweet Baking Mama’s who supply the café’s sweet treats.
“I can’t bake, nor do I want to bake,” admitted Patrice, “I want people to come in, have a coffee, a slice of cake, have a read. I don’t want this to grow into a kitchen or a café, It’s more of a small social hub.”
Looking towards the future, Patrice plans to hold evening events like pop-up Gaeltacht quizzes and engaging with youth services.
“I think people don’t really want to be going to pubs any more,” she said, “We have this big space upstairs, so we’ll definitely get something going here once the dust settles.”
Leabhair agus Lattes is located at 4 Potato Market, Carlow town.