A CAFÉ in the centre of Newmarket-on-Fergus is expanding its services this year to offer outside catering to the surrounding communities.
Rós Café was opened last June by Claire Coughlan, the Newmarket-on-Fergus native who spent 15 years working at The Inn At Dromoland where she was Deputy Manager and Wedding Coordinator. Inspired to open her own business during the pandemic, Claire says it was a case of “right place, right time” as she opened the business previously known as Café Fergus which had been operated by local community group Obair.
“I’m from Newmarket, born and rared, so for me it’s lovely to serve the local people. They know when they come in that you will have the chat with them, it’s people you know all your life,” explains Claire. “I love having the cafe, it’s lovely to be a local person running a local business in your local place.”
Claire opened Rós Café during a period of Government restrictions and was limited to takeaway business and outdoor dining. Over time, the offering has grown and Claire now employs four full-time staff along with a number of casual workers.
Open every Wednesday to Sunday, Claire describes Rós Café as a cozy and friendly environment where everyone is welcome and treated like a friend.
The food menu is available for inside dining and takeaway from 9am to 3pm, along with a selection of homebaked goods, and a new Spring menu will be launched in the coming weeks.
“We bake fresh every day and are known for our incredible cinnamon rolls. We have a variety of fresh bakes available from breads and scones, cinnamon rolls to cakes. Everything is baked fresh in-house by our baker.”
Rós Café also make cakes for all occasions, including birthdays, communions and more, while for the first time they are also taking bookings for outdoor catering enquiries for the coming months. This includes office catering, wedding morning breakfasts, and communions & confirmations. “We offer hot buffets – your chicken curries, stroganoffs, all that kind of stuff – along with finger food, cold buffets, and we are happy to discuss requirements with customers of all group sizes.”
Reflecting on her first nine months in business, Claire tells The Clare Echo, “It’s definitely a challenge, probably more than I had anticipated but it’s great and we’re flying it thank God.
“We also have a lot of people who come from outside the village, people coming from Quin, Clarecastle, Ennis, Shannon – people travelling down for lunch or coming to visit O’Regan Park, they might stop in for a coffee, or on the way to Thurles for a match. Once they come once, they thankfully tend to come back,” says Claire.
Claire, who studied Business & Marketing in college, adds that the managerial experience from the Inn At Dromoland has been “invaluable” in running her own business as she developed relationships with customers and suppliers over her 15 years there. She adds that she’s been “blessed” with her staff. “We have been very lucky, we have excellent and very reliable staff which is great.”
Following on from a very busy Christmas period, Claire and her team are excited for the summer season ahead. “When the weather picks up and encourages people to get back out again, having an area outside, and like that even the playground that people can go for a walk or come back and have their lunch or a coffee and a cake, hopefully the summer is going to be great for all tourism in Ireland.”
To contact Rós Café, call (061) 700 844 or find them on social media.
