'I love the social side to it': Meet the coffee shop owners on one of Cork's busy greenways

The 23km greenway running along the former railway line to Youghal is now open fully to cyclists and walkers.

And for those lacing up their boots or oiling their bicycle wheels, getting out and about on a fine spring day, there are plenty of places to offer them sustenance.

Coffeestation Mogeely is manned by pals Zita Ansboro and Laurie Harte, who are open for business three years this month.

“There are a few of us selling coffee and treats along the greenway route,” says Zita. “There is room for us all.”

The Midleton to Youghal trail travels through the heart of east Cork, linking up with Midleton Station for rail connections to the rest of the country.

People can access the greenway through the sections at Midleton Station, Mogeely, Killeagh, and through the MacCurtain Street car park in Youghal.

Before it opened, Zita and Laurie decided the village of Mogeely would be a good spot for a coffee station.

“The site here needed a coffee station,” says Zita. “There is a large population around and the locals have been great to us.

“Since the greenway opened to the public, we have seen lots of people, both old and young, making use of it and enjoying it. The weekends are really busy.

“Teens on their bikes are quite safe with no traffic on the greenway. They enjoy stopping off for sweets at our tuck shop before they continue on their way.”

How did Zita get into the coffee business?

“I was in cosmetics, working for Clarins in Debenhams,” says Zita. “I have three girls, and I stayed at home for six or seven years.”

Then she was back in business.

“We saw this coffee van for sale in Fermoy,” says Zita. 

“We did it up ourselves and bought new equipment. We called it Coffeestation Mogeely in keeping with the old railway line.

“Our coffee is local, Boardwalk Coffee, Youghal. It seems to go down very well with locals and visitors.”

Business is brisk.

“My 19-year-old daughter Faith often helps out for a few hours,” adds Zita.

What do the ladies like about the coffee business along the greenway?

“I love the social side of it,” says Zita. “It is great to see people, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, travelling from as far as Ballincollig and Dungourney to enjoy an outing on the greenway and stop off here for coffee and cake.

“You get to know people, the regular cyclists and walkers. When the weather is fine, the place is thronged.”

Mogeely wasn’t always on the map for cyclists and walkers.

“That is true,” says Zita. “Mogeely was only ever known for Dairygold, sometimes people had trouble finding Mogeely!”

Now people seek out Coffeestation Mogeely when they are going to the playground with children, going for a walk or a cycle, and after Mass on Sunday.

“It’s lovely to see the kids coming along with their parents and ordering a hot chocolate or a babyccino,” says Zita. “It is a real novelty for them.”

She is no stranger to lacing up her boots for long distances. “I am a marathon runner!” she says. “I’m with the Ballintotis club. I was injured and I had surgery and I’m hoping to get back on track soon.”

Coffeestation Mogeely is one of a few coffee stops along the Greenway, where the trees and hedgerows are retained along the way, and where a significant project of nature planting has encouraged biodiversity.

The former station areas have been transformed to create attractive places for locals and visitors to enjoy.

“There is room for us all,” says Zita. “We are pals.”

When Jenny Fogarty looked out of the window of her house to see the Mogeely/Killeagh/Youghal section of the greenway opening, like Zita, she saw an opportunity.

“I thought, if I don’t open up a coffee station here, someone else will,” says Jenny. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Jenny, studying for a Masters at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, to be a primary school teacher, had a valuable string to her bow opening up Connect Coffee.

“I have barista experience,” she says. “I worked in a coffee shop in Midleton for two years. That has stood to me.”

Jenny had behind her. “I said to dad, will we set up on the greenway,” says Jenny. “He said, why not? We thought of converting a horse box but thought that was too small. We said, if we were doing it, we’d do it right, so we measured up and built it from scratch.

“An Ardmore man built it. I knew what equipment was needed and we got started.”

How has business been?

“It is full on,” says Jenny. “Weekends are particularly busy, and I have great girls who help me out.

“As the evenings get longer, I will open for longer and will open seven days in the summer.”

Jenny’s business is right outside her front door. Commuting isn’t a problem.

“It couldn’t be any better!” she says. “I can look out the window and see all the people, walking and cycling.

“I was really surprised by the number of cyclists. Sunday is the most popular day. 100% of the locals the business.”

Jenny buys local to supply her coffee van.

“I sell Three Fools coffee, which is a Cork coffee,” says Jenny. “I get loads of compliments about it.

“My treats are supplied by another local business, Slow And Steady, and we often offer a ‘product of the month’, which could be Nutella iced lattes for instance.”

Jenny is a people person.

“I love interacting with people, I like dealing with he public, be it serving up a brew or teaching the kids in school.

“I am a people person and I like to get to know people, know about their daily lives and about their backgrounds.”

Jenny looks on the bright side of life.

“I wake up, look out the window, and I see a nice day. Then it’s a case of, ‘I am open for business!’”