“Increasing and unsustainable operational costs” have been cited by the owners of a popular Ennis restaurant for its closure this week.

On Monday, management of the award-winning Rowan Tree Cafe and Hostel located on Harmony Row in Ennis announced that it was to cease trading.

In a statement, Brian and Marianne O’Neill outlined that the “difficult decision” to close their doors arose “due to increasing and unsustainable operational costs”.

They paid tribute to their thousands of customers who have supported the business. “We would like to thank all our loyal guests and customers for their valued custom over the years and most importantly thanks to our fantastic employees many of whom have been with us since the beginning, for their loyalty and dedicated hard work, we will miss the interactions with you all on a daily basis but we feel now is the right time to end this chapter”.

Customers that have a gift voucher are asked to make contact with management via info@rowantreecafebar.ie before Friday.

Former Ennis Town councillor, Michael Guilfoyle said the closure of the Rowan Tree marked a big loss to the heart of Ennis. He noted that “not only was it a great restaurant” but it was a business that was very generous to local groups with sponsorship. “It’s another nail in the town of Ennis,” he stated and commended the O’Neills for doing ‘everything in their power to promote the town they love’.