New cafe is a great opportunity for community and local groups

A NEW cafe at Longmeadows Pitch and Putt Club in Ballyfermot has the potential to generate jobs and training opportunities, with the additional benefit of being a desirable location for local groups in the area to set up base, by Maurice Garvey.

Cllr Hazel De Nortúin (PBP), salvaged the café two years ago, when a new board of management was created at the Dublin City Council owned facility.

Café Glic, under the umbrella of the pitch and putt club, is a hidden gem, overlooking fresh green field surroundings at the Sarsfield Road clubhouse.

Like it’s predecessor, which closed in 2018, the new cafe is synonymous with customers as the place to go for a good quality and affordable Irish breakfast.

Crucially, the French doors can open up to a veranda, allowing for plenty of fresh air overlooking the pitch and putt course.

“I came onto the board of management two years ago when the takeover happened, tried to set something up with Billy Mangan,” said Cllr De Nortúin, a CE Supervisor at the café.

“The café opened in December 2019, but with Covid and everything else, it has been about trying to keep the place open. Sure, where would you get the views.”

An unusual aspect of the previous incarnation of the café was that it did not open during winter, because the pitch and putt course closed during the off-season.

“The problem has been consistency,” said De Nortúin, who plans to keep the café open all year around if viable.

“It was very busy today, so it is slowly and surely but we were turning people away at the door last winter which would drive you mad.

“We have kept the same supplier, and are hoping to expand and look at a five year plan. The course is here 21 years, this building 16 years. The scope is there to look at what can be done.”

De Nortúin’s relationship with the city council was a big help in getting the not-for-profit venture off the ground, as was her experience in starting up an Irish speaking pre-school Naíonraí in Ballyfermot four years ago.

The café employs a cook, a barista and a deputy manager.

Along with utilising the café as a place to go for Irish speaking people, De Nortúin believes the facility can be of huge benefit to many other local groups, including “mother and babies, music, Ballyfermot anti-racism network”.

“We have coffee chain 3fe, a well established brand, that was a giant first step. This place can be for anyone looking to get back to work. It is all about about community employment.

“Long term, we are looking at outdoors (dining). With housing developments due to take place next door at Fr Bedoni Court, this can be of benefit to lower Ballyfermot.”