The drip, drip closure of shops and pubs in rural areas is a real worry for people. A lack of local services causes all sorts of problems for everyone. With no shop in a village, people have to travel long distances to get basics such as milk and bread. In some counties if there’s no shop in a village, there will be no planning permission for any housing development. This means young people can’t afford to set up home in their local village even if they wanted to. It’s a vicious cycle.

So what’s the solution? Well one village in Co Tipperary appears to have found a way and is winning the war against rural decay.

Loughmore is much the same as hundreds of small villages scattered across rural Ireland. It has a population of 100 people with another 800 living in the parish of 300 homes.

In the past, the village provided a good standard of living for seven businesses but over time all but one – a pub – closed their doors. “This is the only village between Templemore and Thurles and even though Loughmore is just off the main road, there was no reason to call in. The place was dead,” says Mary Fogarty.

Fight back

Mary grew up in the village where her parents kept a shop. Like many young people she moved away and worked in the bank until illness brought her home to Loughmore. “When I was able to get out a bit there was nowhere to get a cup of coffee or have a chat with people. It was then that I vowed I’d re-open my parent’s shop.”

Mary set about researching her bright idea and in doing so she came across the Plunkett Foundation, and yes you’d be right in thinking that this UK-based foundation is named after the founder of the Irish Co-operative Movement, Horace Plunkett. It was through this foundation that Mary learned all about community-owned co-operatives where any profits made are ploughed back into the business and parish.

Great minds think alike

While Mary was busy researching all about community-owned co-operatives, organic farmer and mother of two young children, Maeve O’Hair was coming to terms with the death of her husband.

Critically, she was thinking about opening a tea shop in Loughmore. The two women joined forces and The Cottage was conceived.

Now the real work started. They were invited by Peter Couchman, CEO of the Plunkett Foundation to visit some of the 300 shops and tea shops that operate as community-owned co-operatives across the UK.

What they learnt didn’t daunt Mary and Maeve. “We knew we could do it,” says Mary.

They followed this up by completing a food hygiene course as well as a six-week course on ‘How to run a tea shop’ at Ballymaloe. LEADER came on board with 75% funding for fixtures and fittings and kitchen equipment. Local food producers and crafts people were sourced and a committee formed. Critically, Maeve’s sister had a suitable premises on which they signed a six-year lease.

Community backing

With the groundwork done Mary and Maeve were ready to put their idea to the community.

“We organised a public meeting, explained what we were about and asked for people to become shareholders. The shares were €10 each and we wanted 300 people to subscribe. As it happened, 90% of the householders in the parish subscribed and we raised €3,200 which went to stocking the shop.”

Getting The Cottage ready became a big community effort with locals involved at every stage.

“We couldn’t have hoped for better support, it was a resounding ‘yes’ from the parish. It cost €54,000 to set up and that covered everything. All that money was spent locally on building, plumbing, carpentry and various other services and suppliers.

The Cottage opened for business in August 2012. “Sure some people thought we’d be gone in six months, but we are still here and doing very well.”

With the exception of Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, the tea rooms and shop are open seven days a week serving breakfast, light lunch and afternoon tea. There’s a lovely garden space to enjoy a cup of tea in good weather. There’s also a grocery shop that meets most needs, a craft showcase and crucially the village has got its post box back. “It’s a post point and you can buy stamps and pay bills from here as well,” says Mary.

All the food is sourced within 8km or made on-site with food miles clear on everything. The local school even grows vegetables for them. The Cottage employs four people and two people with special needs also work there. At least 20 volunteers are heavily involved.

Bigger and better

With the business now on the go for six years, the lease was up so The Cottage is moving 100 metres down the road to a new premises with more space, a better kitchen, disability access and outside space for children. What’s more, in an act of real faith with the community they have signed a 20-year lease. They expect to be in the new premises by next month according to their great builder Tony McCormack who says he loves turning the new premises “into something magical for the community of Loughmore”.

In the six years it’s been open, The Cottage has won numerous awards from the Irish Times Best Tearooms to a Sustainable Communities award in 2016. They are also one of 11 Breakfast Champions in the county. Mary and Maeve were invited to be keynote speakers at the Horace Plunkett Foundation just two years after opening. And they are strong on social media.

Under the auspices of Tipperary County Council they have showcased The Cottage in Hungary and Slovenia where delegates from 15 European countries voted it the most “doable project”.

And they have helped 15 similar project groups from around the country with their plans for a community owned co-operative.

According to Dr Senan Cooke of DCU, The Cottage is the “most inspirational social enterprise to come out of Ireland in the last 20 years”. And who can say better than that.

You can meet Mary Fogarty on the Irish Farmers Journal stand from 2.30pm on Wednesday 18 of September to hear more. Or call 0504 35846 or email thecottageloughmore@gmail.com

@thecottagelmore

Meet the team

The volunteers

Phyllis Connolly has been a volunteer since she retired in 2015.

“I do one day a week and extra hours if I’m needed. I like minding the shop but I’ll do whatever I’m asked. I meet so many people from all parts of the country and indeed from all around the world. I’ve even been able to help some of them tracing their ancestors.

“We also have a regular clientele with great support from the Garda College and St Ann’s and St Cronan’s in Templemore.”

It’s only six months ago since Breda Ryan started as a volunteer. The retired special needs carer was recovering from a stroke when she got a call asking if she was interested in doing a few hours. “And here I am. It’s a great way of getting out of the house and feeling wanted. I’m here every Thursday morning and I love it. If anyone is thinking of volunteering just walk in the door. You will get plenty of support and encouragement if you do.”

The producer

Marie Maher has been making jams, marmalades and meringues for The Cottage since it opened six years ago. Irish Country Living can vouch for her wonderful plum jam. “I love cooking and this keeps me in practice. I make a delivery most weeks and I always freeze fruit when it’s plentiful so that I can make jams in winter. “

Marie is one of the nine member food producers group who bake and supply homemade goods to the business. She is paid an agreed price at the end of the month.

The worker

Laurna Ryan is heading off to UL to study law and accountancy and has worked in The Cottage since transition year. “I work here every Sunday and I love it. Working here has taught me how to cook so I’m sorted for college.”

The community view

The chair of the Loughmore Development group, Tom Larkin says that along with the GAA, The Cottage is what keeps the community going.

“It’s core to everything and shows how successful a community can be when everyone works together.

“I believe there’s plenty of scope for initiatives like this right across the country.”

The happy customer

Pat Hogan is not a native of Loughmore but his daughter and her family live there and he decided that when he retired he would end his days in Loughmore. Every morning he is first in to get his newspaper.

“This is one of the nicest communities I’ve ever known. I recall being here for a function and on my way back home at 6am on a Monday morning there were 10 people out sweeping up after the function.

“This is a community where rural decay is being successfully challenged against all the odds. It’s a wonderful place.”