Fennellys of Callan — Restaurant in The Municipal District of Callan — Thomastown

The ancient slendor door creaked open as we made our escape from the whirling spring wind. Once inside, our eyes instantly met several rosy-cheeked grins. Raindrops quietly tapped on windows, politely asking to follow us in, perhaps they too were drawn to the bountiful counter brimming with sugary delights, kept safe under glimmering glass domes. My eyes found the word latte, and the lemon meringue pie sang a song only Marian could hear. Soon, we were sitting in what felt like a collage of everyone's Grandma's living room. There were cushions and photos and velvet and Jesus. The fire crackled as conversations happily bounced off of warm walls. A hearty bowl full of delicious local ingredients was placed before me, and I could taste the Irish Sun in every bite. The familiar rhythm of a happy tail drummed on my leg as a friendly pup made courteous rounds, silently asking after everyone's mam and inquiring if the bacon quiche was up to snuff; must work...

Absolutely love this place — and we feel so lucky that it's in my husband’s childhood town, which means a stop here is a must every time we're in Callan. The atmosphere is always so warm and welcoming, and if you catch some live music while you're there, it’s a real treat.

I’m always excited to try something new from the menu, the quiches, toasties, and hot pot specials are consistently delicious. My son and his girlfriend rave about the chocolate brownies (they're truly divine), but for me, the standout is the Basque cheesecake, hands down my all-time favourite. Yum!

Julia is always wonderfully friendly and happy to have a chat, which makes each visit feel extra special. Can’t wait to stop in again on our next trip to town. And a big bonus — Fennelly’s is dog-friendly, which our four-legged companions...

A unique cafe experience, emergent from a genuine interest in this historic town, and a deep desire to continue a tradition of local enterprise.

The basics; coffee great, food great - the core of any good cafe. But in addition, Fennelly's has an interior that has to be seen first-hand. The building has been used by undertakers, publicans, butchers and grocers over the decades, and you can see features of all these business. There has been some kind of premises on this spot since medieval times, and Etaoin the current custodian can tell you loads of the building's history.

There is a very definite ethos at work here, and it shows. I loved my visit to Fennelly's and I can't wait to come back and sample some more food, coffee...