Best local coffee and pastries at Beanieman
THE “outdoor summer” has arrived, and around the county people are sitting outside in all weathers enjoying food and drink in a new way.
Among those who have innovated in response to this new situation is Noel Phelan. Noel has just opened Beanieman Brews at Healy’s Garden Centre, a stone’s throw from Tobernalt holy well. Noel is serving top quality coffee and locally made cakes and pastries from a coffee cart that he renovated himself during the lockdowns.
I called out to Noel on a sunny afternoon. Cyclists, sailors and gardening enthusiasts were happily trying out Noel’s coffee offerings, delighted with the new addition to the area.
Noel said: “My main background is as a photographer and DJ. I was Red Bull’s main DJ for many of their sporting events. I used to drive a 1945 Dodge Army Ambulance for Red Bull that had been converted into a DJ box. “But then the lockdowns came and I was seriously affected, like so many people in entertainment and media. All of my work went out the window. So I conceived Beanieman Brews as a lockdown project.
“I’m originally from Dublin but I moved to Strandhill – my partner is from there and we’d been coming here for years.
“I brought this old trailer up from Longford. I renovated it myself, which took six months. Everything needed to be done, from structure to electrics. I did it in a shed in Ransboro, working daily from early in the morning. “I always wanted to do coffee. I found Andrew and Paola Willis at
Carrow Coffee near Beltra. I went out and did a bit of training with Andrew. He’s excellent as a teacher. He took me through all of the processes and we did tastings.
“For me, it is very important to use local businesses. The cakes and pastries I’m serving here come from Le Fournil in Sligo – Le Fournil has a very good name, and Clo takes good care of me. All of the tradespeople I used to help me get this trailer completed were from Sligo and the Strandhill-Ransboro area.”
I asked Noel why he chose this spot by Lough Gill for Beanieman Brews. Noel said: “Austin of Healy’s Garden Centre had got in touch with Andrew at Carrow Coffee looking to set something up. I was introduced to Austin. I told him what I was doing and he loved the idea.
“I’ve only just started here, but I’m already having a very good reaction. People get a coffee when doing their garden centre shopping. A lot of cyclists pass by here. We’ve got Slish Wood and Dooney Rock not far away. Tobernalt holy well is nearby. Kayak tours and sailing lessons take place on the lake.”
Attractive seating has been installed near Noel’s coffee cart, and he said that the seating area will be developed further.
Noel concluded by saying that he doesn’t think outdoor dining is going to be a fad. I think he’ll be proved right – especially if businesspeople take Noel’s lead and serve high quality, local products in fabulous settings. Good luck to Beanieman Brews!
(By Peter Henry)