You may already rely on them for a caffeine hit.

But one of the owners of Fadó, a Douglas espresso bar that operates from a 1976 former Dutch creperie van, has revealed that running the pop-up business also helped him to cope when his family was rocked by tragedy.

Ian Whelan of Douglas and Peter McCabe of Kanturk, wanted to create a space where the local community in Douglas could get a quality cuppa and meet for a decent conversation. Fadó opened during the summer, taking over a quiet corner of the car park at St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills.

“I say it’s a coffee habit gone too far, but to be honest I’ve always had a keen interest in coffee and running my own business and it was my mother who encouraged me to pursue this venture,” said Ian.

“I had already made a start on the van when mum passed away suddenly in March of this year. It was around that time when I really threw myself into working on the renovations and found it helped me through a very tough period.”

‘She was integral to the creative process’

Once the van was renovated, the lads turned their focus to quality coffee, sustainability and supporting local suppliers. Fadó hosts a variety of Cork favourites including established speciality coffee roasters Badger & Dodo, roasted in Fermoy, O’Conaills Hot Chocolate from Carrigaline, Barry’s Tea and local milk producers from West Cork. Cups, lids, stirrers and napkins are 100% compostable.

The pet-friendly space even boasts a dedicated doggy station where your canine coffee date can enjoy free treats and water and you can pick up waste bags if you’ve forgotten your own. Staff will happily drop your coffee to your car if the weather turns too.

As the Fadó story continues to unfurl, Deirdre’s presence can be felt in everything they do.

“Our logo is actually a tribute to her memory – it’s her fingerprint intertwined with a coffee bean,” explains Ian.

“My mum was my biggest supporter when it came to Fadó, she was integral to the creative process so I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far. This whole journey is for her really, it’s what keeps me going.”

Fadó is currently open Wednesday – Saturday from 8:30am until 2:30pm in St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Douglas (T12PTW9) (on the right of the car park as you enter).