DONERAILE ENTERPRISE DOUBLES UP AT CORK BUSINESS AWARDS
THE award-winning Café Townhouse and Townhouse Interiors in Doneraile scooped two prestigous awards at last Saturday night’s Cork Business Awards, adding another string to its impressive bow at The Conventions Centre Clayton Silversprings.
In their citation the judging panel said: ‘ the winner tonight sets new standards with her two businesses in the world famous village of Doneraile. Her café is renowned and the must-go-to place and her interiors business is sought out by local and global clients. It sets itself apart from others in its local and regional environment’.
The historic Commercial Hall, which houses both the café and Townhouse curtains and blinds, dates back to the 1870’s and has been serving people from the local community for more than 140-years.
It also played a big roll in Culture night 2018 when the building re-enacted through historical characters a day in the life of The Commercial Hall at the turn of the last century. At the turn of the century it was home to a fine china business, selling to large estates across the region and also served as a drapery and antique furniture shop for more than five decades.
Its current owners, Myra Ryall and Ray O’Callaghan, are proud of the building’s heritage with Myra saying their twin business aim is to serve the local community and visitors to Doneraile for “generations to come”.
This is down, in no small measure, to their passion for Doneraile, a passion which has seen them promote not just their businesses but also the village and Doneraile Park as a tourist destination through the Munster Vales and Ancient East initiatives.
In fact, both of them have even trained as professional guides, promoting tours of the village and the park, which according to Bord Fáilte figures, is one of the country’s leading free visitor attractions.
“Ray and I promote Doneraile whenever and wherever we can, something that we believe has also been reflected through this award,” said Myra.
Also Myra would like to thank the Business Cork organizer Micheal Mulcahy for showcasing Doneraile on large screens on the night to over 550 Business people. “This publicity is invaluable and had everybody on the night wanting to visit,” she said.
Lauded on TripAdvisor as “a hidden gem in full view on Doneraile’s Main Street”, the café prides itself on its ‘old worlde’ charm and decor that Myra proudly said “draws people into a vanished world, a time of lords and ladies and big house full of character”.
“The wallpaper, the pictures on the walls and even the floor beneath your feet has tales,” she said.
This café was, of course, designed and fitted by Myra and Ray all from their own Interiors shop in the same building.