Think what you will about the recent Budget. There’s no obscuring the fact that for the hospitality sector, and specifically the independent hospitality sector, the news was disastrous. The casualties will be numerous, but I didn’t expect the first to sting quite so much.
Milo’s, in Drumcondra, was the sister cafe to Two Boys Brew, one of the finest coffee establishments in Ireland (and in this writer’s opinion, the best eatery in the country).
Since Milo’s opened their dog friendly doors in 2021, they have won the sort of acclaim and devotion only really seen when a community and a neighbourhood cafe achieve a rare symbiosis.
In a heartbreaking open letter, Two Boys Brew founders Kevin Roche and Taurean Coughlan announced their decision to close Milos, pointing the finger at the very real disconnect between the people making the decisions that govern our favourite places, and the needs of the sector as a whole.
There will be many closures to come in coming months, but few will hurt quite the same way this one will.
Words: Adhamh Ó Caoimh
