The Old Hardware turns six

The Old Hardware in Narraghmore is celebrating its sixth birthday today and is marking the occasion with some birthday deals, writes Brian Byrne. Anyone coming in and singing “ Happy Birthday” will get a free coffee and scone.

If you're shy about your singing ability, you can just wish the staff a happy birthday and you'll get a free coffee. There are also free bags of sweets for children.

The popular café and community hub was an initiative of the Narraghmore Development Association, first proposed in 2017 for the by then long-closed former hardware and grocery store which had been operated by the Kelly family until 2005.

The Association put together a business plan for a community social enterprise that would provide a centre for the village, at the time on the point of also losing Kathleen Hickey's Post Office and shop on her retirement.

The €100,000 cost was funded by a Town & Village Renewal grant, local fundraising, and support from publican Mel Treacy who owned the building.

The community-run shop and tearoom is operated by volunteers. "Serving the Narraghmore community here wouldn't be possible without our amazing volunteers," the managing committee says. "Special thanks to everyone who has given their time and energy to making The Old Hardware a success over the past six years."

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