East Village Coffee get keys to the Round Tower Visitor Centre, Clondalkin.

Local firm successful in competitive tendering process.

East Village Coffee of Monastery Road, Clondalkin are set to open their second premises at South Dublin County Council’s award winning Round Tower Visitor Centre, Brú Chrónáin this month. The local firm was successful in a competitive process to operate a café and retail offering as well as managing the visitor centre.

The Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Ed O’Brien, welcomed the handover of the keys to the visitor centre to Jonathan Barr and Mark Matanes of East Village Coffee on Tuesday 13th October. East Village will now put plans in place to open the centre and to provide locals and visitors alike with a vibrant central attraction in the heart of Clondalkin.

Speaking at the event Mayor O’Brien said “This is really positive news for Clondalkin, and the wider County in a time of so much economic uncertainty. It is testament to the quality of the building and the pride within the area for the Round Tower that the Council was able to attract high calibre applications to its tendering process. The Visitor Centre was conceived by the Council in collaboration with the local community to celebrate the Round Tower and its history and I’m sure the local community will, once again, show their spirit and enthusiastically support this venture. I wish Jonathan and Mark the best on their new business in operating the café and retail space at the centre. Whilst the Visitor Centre will remain closed in line with current health restrictions, the fact that we now have an operator in place means that the centre is best placed to open up when the County opens up, and I look forward to revisiting the exhibition at the Round Tower Visitor Centre – Brú Chrónáin when it reopens.”

Jonathan Barr of East Village Coffee said; “We are delighted to be given this opportunity to add to this attraction in the heart of Clondalkin. We will be working closely with the council and our suppliers to provide a service our customers have grown to appreciate. Whilst current health restrictions mean that we won’t be able to open the visitor centre straight away we do plan to initially offer take away coffee and treats, to gradually overtime provide a full dining experience. Our plans also include testing an early bird menu as well as opening up the centre for events and gatherings, subject to prevailing government and health guidelines.”

The Round Tower Visitor Centre closed its doors earlier this year in response to the public health emergency. In the intervening time the Council ran a competitive tender for an operator to provide a café, retail service as well as to manage the centre. The council has just completed a tendering process to update the interpretation at the visitor centre under the Fáilte Ireland Surprising Stories funding initiative. Those works are expected to commence within the next few weeks. The visitor experience aspect of the centre will reopen in line with prevailing government health guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For further information, please email communications@sdublincoco.ie