Tara Maher
Recent weeks have seen a significant surge in café culture in Carrigaline and its neighboring areas.
Café Velo opened in the old Tony & Tino's location in the Owenabue Mall on Main Street Carrigaline last week. Café Morso opened close by in the vacant unit next to Aldi.
A short distance down the road in Crosshaven, Priory Coffee opened its sixth location.
The new additions come to Carrigaline adjacent to the well-established Bean & Leaf and Three Fools Coffee, which opened in late 2022, and Gourmet Pantry, which opened last year.
These new café openings are not just welcomed, but they are a cause for celebration. They bring a sense of renewal to our towns, replacing derelict shops with vibrant, bustling cafés. This is a clear sign that our community is thriving and not forgotten in the modern world. Luckily, the same can't be said for Carrigdhoun villages.
It takes a village is a phrase that defines the new café boom. Visibly, baristas and wait staff benefit from employment, but local contractors, suppliers, and bakers are also contributing and, in turn, reveling in their continued success, thanks to the increased demand from the burgeoning café culture.
The rise in the number of cafés opening in Carrigaline and Crosshaven is just a microcosm of what's happening nationwide. Café culture is experiencing a renaissance, driven by changing social habits such as the shift away from a drinking culture, and economic factors like the rise in remote and hybrid working models.
But why? Why are cafés the new trend? Or is it becoming more of a way of life for people?
Stereotypically, Irish people love a pint - and there's truth behind it: we do, but we don't love it as much as we used to.
The new arrivals mirror recent findings that Irish people are shifting away from a drinking culture, with 30% fewer Irish people consuming less alcohol now than 20 years ago - according to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). This statistic sadly reflects the number of pub closures that have taken place across the country.
Coffee, croissants, and a chat have become the new pints and a bag of crisps as the drinking culture in Ireland is suffering an existential crisis.
When horse trailers turned portable coffee shops became trendy during COVID-19 lockdowns, their appeal continued following the easing of restrictions, and people realised they didn't depend on the pub as much as they thought. Inflation and price hikes, drink-driving bans, and compulsory nine-euro meals have also contributed to "dragging people out of the pub."
The average price of a pint in Ireland is now at €5.77 and rising, and the average cost of a night out is anywhere from the 80 to 150 mark, not including food and transport. With costs rising across the board, someone somewhere must take the hit, and unfortunately it seems to be the publicans.
The "Will we go for a drink?" texts have been replaced by "coffee?" - a more inexpensive third place for punters without the dreaded hangover.
Hybrid and remote working models have also seen a rise in demand for coffee shops. If you think about it, cafes are almost carbon copies of offices. They both offer similar environments: wi-fi, bathrooms, and the hustle and bustle of chit-chat and phones ringing.
When measures were introduced for workers to work from home, many reported feelings of loneliness and isolation while working at home, and the silence of quiet kitchens unsettling. The novelty of working from bed in your pyjamas wore off swiftly; workers were unwilling to spend on costly co-working spaces - cafés and coffee shops have become a cheaper alternative. They provide wi-fi, bathroom facilities, and social interaction for the price of a sugar-free caramel skinny latte.
As I mentioned previously, cafés have taken over from pubs as 'third spaces' - a sociology term meaning a place where you can escape from the structure and routine of home (first place) or work (second place), where you can socialise and engage with the community. They are not just places to grab a coffee but hubs of social interaction and community engagement.
Third places can be identified by their accessibility, the presence of regulars, a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, and the ability to facilitate conversation and social interaction. Coffee shops, with their long history as gathering places, naturally embody many of these qualities.
Cafés are incredibly versatile in their uses. Some are perfect for catching up with an old friend, while others are used as starting and ending points for running clubs, interviews, book clubs, and so on. They cater to a wide range of needs and preferences, making them an integral part of our daily lives and ensuring that everyone can find a place that suits them.
In essence, the rise of café culture in Carrigaline and Crosshaven reflects larger societal shifts.
Cafés have evolved from mere places to grab a coffee into dynamic social hubs and alternative working spaces. They provide a strong sense of community and connection, offering a welcoming environment for people to socialize, work, and simply enjoy life. As these establishments continue to flourish, they are undoubtedly reshaping the fabric of our towns and contributing to a vibrant and inclusive local culture.
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