'The Cedar Box' coffee stop opens in Ballyshannon

Deirdre Horan and Fiona Talbot.

Getting a horse-box from your family for a significant birthday might seem an unusual choice of present, but for Fiona Talbot of Ballyshannon it was for a particular purpose, writes Brian Byrne.

In her case, no horse was involved — "though it once did carry horses!" — but rather an extension of Fiona's part-time catering work. And with her friend Deirdre Horan it opened for business today in the car park of Dowlings of Ballyshannon as 'The Cedar Box' coffee stop.

"I had been planning it for some time, but it took a bit longer to complete than I expected," Fiona told the Diary today, adding her thanks to family and friends who helped with the work of converting the box into the smart coffee stop which already had customers queuing when we arrived.

"It's a busy road, and since Ciarán Dowling opened up the outside space for the bar last year it has become a good pull-in. We're hoping that business from locals will build up with other people driving by on the road."

Fiona and Deirdre are staffing the box, with tea, freshly-brewed coffee, scones, toasties and other savoury offerings available to all comers. There's plenty of outdoor seating so the fare can be savoured in comfort.

The Cedar Box initially will operate at weekends from 9am-4pm, but if there's demand they'll consider extending to other days of the week.

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