Always a treat at Fika 33 & the Shamrock Inn

Fika 33 customers are greeted with a treat each time they walk in, not knowing what array of freshly baked goods will lie waiting on the countertop.

On the day the Celt visited, sausage rolls, croissants, scones, mini carrot cake loaves, chocolate chip cookies, fifteens, muffins, tarts, rocky roads and much more sat waiting to be picked up and delved into.

Meanwhile on the savoury side, Fika 33 has a vast menu of soups, sandwiches, burgers, currys and more, catering for the ravenous and sweet toothed who happen to find themselves in the town.

If you have the pleasure of passing through during weekend evenings, you can finish the evening with a perfect pint in the Shamrock Inn bar.

The café is open from Wednesday to Sunday; while the bar is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Owner Tomás O’Reilly grew up working in the family bar, so pulling the perfect pint of stout is second nature to him. However the addition of a kitchen brought a new challenge.

“It’s a tough industry and it took us a long time to find our feet,” Tomás said, adding that they are now “confident” in the sector and “delighted” with the team in the café.

Local Elizabeth Doonan, who moved back to Killeshandra from France, is looking after the café.

“It’s great to see a local person in and I think she’s been very well received by everyone,” he said.

The weekends are the “busiest period”, while during the week locals and people working around the town call in for a bite to eat or a coffee.

“It’s lovely to see people meeting up, it’s lovely to see friends, family, have a place to come to and meet.

“People of all ages are coming in here and you just get a great buzz seeing people enjoying themselves.

“They seem to be coming back so that’s a good sign.”

While Tomás described the café as a “good asset” to the town, he also praised other businesses who have come to the town, noticing a “bit of a buzz” at the weekends, with the re-opening of Kelly’s pub, the opening of a new business Outdoor Sauna and Leisure, refurbishment of old buildings, the Loop of the Lakes, the Killeshandra Camino Calling walk, Cabu and other initiatives.

"Trad Fest around St Patrick’s weekend and Cavan County Fleadh on the June bank holiday weekend over the last year has been great to bring people back into the area and see what Killeshandra has to offer."

“It’s all about trying to get more young people back into the area. If we can play our part it’s great."

Tomás feels that Killeshandra is "starting to find its feet" again after a few difficult years.

He wished all of his staff, customers and everybody in the town a happy Christmas and a “safe and peaceful” New Year.