Bedecked with window boxes and hanging baskets, this picturesque thatched house in the village centre houses the Sheelin Lace Shop and Museum, the latter displaying probably the most comprehensive collection of Irish lace anywhere in Ireland or beyond.
The property has been in the Cathcart family for three generations and the attractive café has been operated very successfully by an ace baker, Sharon Finlay, since the summer of 2015.
The setting is really pretty and the food is lovely: great coffee and, with tasty, wholesome lunch dishes offered and tempting bakes on display throughout the day, she has a hit on her hands.
Influenced by time spent in the States, there's an American twist to some dishes (the 'Evansville burger', for example), but the emphasis is on good home cooking using fresh local ingredients. Sharon also makes her own jams, chutneys and breads, which are on sale to take home, and will make special occasion cakes to order.
It’s just the kind of place that visitors hope to find when out and about; with the Lace Museum in the same premises, it makes an interesting destination for an outing – and is very popular with the lucky locals too.
