Ballyglunin Garden Café grows from pilot initiative
Now opens three days a week
A NEW Garden Café has opened at the Ability West Brooklodge Adult Day Service in Ballyglunin and will be a haven for tasty treats, community connection and ongoing learning.
The café has grown from the hugely popular Friday Feeling Café which was a small pilot initiative that opened one day a week. As a result of its success, the space has been fully renovated and refurbished. It will now open Wednesday to Friday every week.
A vibrant community open day saw the ribbon being officially cut for the café, which was attended by persons supported, their families, neighbours and friends. Everyone enjoyed a relaxed afternoon and sampled some of the delicious fresh bakes that feature on the easy-to-read menu.
“The café is about creating opportunities,” Unit Director Sinead Anderson explained. “Our persons supported have played an active role in preparing the café and shaping the space. Many of our Friday Feeling regulars were eagerly waiting for the reopening, and we are delighted to welcome them back—along with new visitors. We hope the Garden Café will become a real focal point for the community.”
Visitors at the launch also enjoyed slideshows on the history of Brooklodge and explored the wider social enterprise projects based onsite, including the eco-friendly refill station, organic garden centre, craft stall, and upcycled furniture workshop.
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AT the ribbon cutting Julie Silke Daly, CEO; Peter Burke Estates and Transport; Brooklodge Manager staff and service users.Image 2 of 4
AT the opening were (front) Anne Cassidy, SICAP Senior Manager; Emily Hughes Climate Action GRD; Sinéad Anderson, Manager Brooklodge; Jane Maher, Ballyglunin; Julie McGrath, Tús (back) Michael Maloney, Brooklodge and Tara Roberts, volunteer.Image 3 of 4
MARK Maloney and John O’Brien at the Garden Cafe launch at Ballyglunin.Image 4 of 4
MUSICIANS Aideen Anderson and Darragh Anderson entertained everyone at the Garden Cafe Launch at Ballyglunin.Julie Silke Daly, CEO of Ability West, congratulated everyone involved, saying: “It’s amazing to see the refurbishments here and how well everything looks. Brooklodge is a tribute to the staff and the persons supported here. Projects like this can lose momentum over time, but huge credit is due to Unit Director Sinead Anderson and Brooklodge team, who continually drive improvement and embrace new ideas also.
“Brooklodge is a real jewel in the crown. We also want to thank Peter Burke Director of Estates and Transport and the Ballyglunin community—without your support, these projects simply wouldn’t thrive. The refurbishments here in Brooklodge were funded by the Fundraising Committee so it’s great to see these types of projects being progressed with fundraising money!”