Community Cornerstone is brought to you by Square. 

We all have a grá for our local coffee spot.

All over Cork, nestled amidst the bustling streets and historic landmarks, lies a vibrant tapestry of local cafés. These cosy havens, each with its unique charm, serve more than just coffee and pastries; they are the cornerstones of our communities.

In the coming weeks, we’ll delve into the personal stories of the passionate individuals behind those busy counters. Discover their motivations, the challenges they’ve faced, and explore the heart and soul of Cork’s café culture, powered by Square’s all-in-one solution for food and beverage businesses.

Hannah Barnett Byrne, Wild + Tame, 16 Market Street, Kinsale

“I was working in tech sales and I knew it really wasn’t for me. When I finished up in the corporate world, it made me ask myself what I really wanted. This was all in 2020 so there was a lot of time for thinking. I wanted to work for myself and to give back to the community in my new home of Kinsale.

“Wild + Tame started in a horsebox in 2021. We moved into our shop in December of 2022. The move into the shop wasn’t planned, it all happened fast. I saw the opportunity and jumped at it! The name was the easy part, I have always thought everyone has a wild and a tame side, not all of us can channel both sides but I reckon there is wild and tame in all of us.

“Choosing the right tech is key. Square is super easy to use and set up. It even helps with rosters as it notes your busy and quiet times. It also tells you your most popular products and staff can use it to sign in and out for time sheets.

“When Wild +Tame started, horseboxes were popping up everywhere. I wanted to stand out and get people talking about the brand. It’s hard at the beginning, no one knows who you are and what you stand for so those first impressions are important. We also kept it super consistent, and we still do today, which has paid off for the brand.

“The biggest risk I took was putting every cent I owned into the business. The journey has taught me to remember you can’t do everything, and to take time out – that helps the creative side of me to flourish. I do my best and trust my gut.

“Every day is different, which keeps things fun. I have a super team that bangs out the best Stone Valley Roasters coffees but when things don’t go to plan (which happens a lot) we do our best to figure it out. Wild +Tame is not a one-man show, it is a massive effort by everyone involved.

“Our hoodies are a bestseller. They fly out the door. We have a mirror in the shop that people can write on and we get lots of beauty quotes on the mirror so I decided to take some of the quotes and put them on the hoodies. I think that’s pretty class, the Wild + Tame community helped to create this hoodie.

“I never understood the term ‘it takes a village’ until I opened the shop. It was a massive effort from the entire community, everyone got a job and the support from the local people was incredible, I couldn’t have done it without them. Small businesses like Wild +Tame are the heart and soul of small towns in Ireland, it’s the locals that keep the lights on, and for that, I am so grateful.

“You never know who’s looking up to you. I was invited into a primary school to be a judge for the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) and it was unreal. I spoke about running a business and how it started, but the class knew so much about Wild +Tame and that really surprised me. When they presented their projects, the level of detail was amazing! I would love to do more things like this in the community.

“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way? That it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s better to take the chance than to wonder what if. Mistakes are important – you learn and move on. Also; if you’re just starting out, research your industry; why are you different from the rest? Why are you doing all of this in the first place?

“There are so many options for Wild+Tame as a brand and that’s exciting. The brand has grown with me and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

Community Cornerstone is brought to you by Square, the flexible restaurant POS solution your staff can learn in minutes. Square takes payments quickly and keeps the queue moving, with a host of extra bonuses to track sales and manage inventory. Find the best solutions for your business needs at square.com. Square is Big in Cafes, and Wild+Tame is Big in Cork.

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Photos: Louis Tang