West Cork village celebrates reopening of Mountain House bar after two-year closure
A tiny West Cork seaside community this week celebrated the reopening of a local bar and restaurant after two years in the dark — while also rallying to prevent the possible closure of its creamery branch.On a scenic stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ardfield village’s Mountain House Bar and Restaurant hosted a packed “soft, locals-only opening” at the weekend. From today, the venue begins a gradual rollout of its food offering — just in time for the West Cork Rally passing its door this weekend — with plans to fully ramp up in April for the busy hospitality season.Behind the investment in the Mountain House are Castleisland-born John Culloty, a project manager in the medical devices sector, and his wife Niamh O’Sullivan, who has family links to Union Hall and Bishopstown, along with their two children — Cara, five, and Niall, almost two — “and he’ll be the first on the barred list,” jokes John of their youngest.Mountain House, Ardfield, Co Cork.Joining the kitchen team is Joseph Quane, a finalist in the Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year 2025 from Coachford, who returns closer to home from Dublin’s Allta restaurant.From today, the initial food offering includes cheese and charcuterie boards, with a full higher-end menu featuring homemade pastas, stuffed ravioli, and seafood launching in early April.The 60-seat, 3,500 sq ft property will be split into distinct restaurant and bar areas, with a separate bar food menu also planned.Given the capacity of the commercial kitchen, plans are also well advanced to provide hot school meals to three local schools under contract.Entrepreneurial duo Culloty and O’Sullivan — who holds a master’s degree in community development — first discussed opening a hospitality business while living in Galway. However, they say property prices were too high to buy both a premises and a home there.The couple moved to Clonakilty in 2022, buying a home from local builder and Mountain House owner Patrick O’Sullivan at The Miles, before later agreeing a lease deal with him for the Ardfield premises.Ironically, after remaining closed for two years, the Mountain House reopens in the same week the rural coastal community gathered at nearby Rathbarry Hall to raise concerns about reports that Lisavaird Co-op may close three local branches, including Ardfield’s.Patrick O’Sullivan and his wife Carol bought the Mountain House for a strong €700,000 during the downturn, investing in renovations and operating it as a family business for a period.They later leased the premises to local siblings Caitríona and Mags Hegarty, who ran it successfully before stepping back at the end of 2023.After O’Sullivan’s house-building business developed part of the Mountain House site for detached houses, the premises went on the market for sale or lease through Hodnett Forde with a €500,000 AMV.The property attracted interest locally, as well as from buyers in the US and Northern Ireland, but “John and Niamh were the best fit”, according to estate agent Andy Donoghue of Hodnett Forde, who said it was taken “on a five-year lease on flexible terms”.“Pubs aren’t working in lots of rural areas, but this part of West Cork is different, there’s the likes of O’Donovan’s Fishers Cross near us which is flying. People come out from Clonakilty and to places like Monk’s Lane in Timoleague for top food, we already have bookings for wedding second days, and will have the marquee up for the summer and the outdoor BBQ area going,” says Mr Culloty, who plans to open from Thursday to Sunday initially, expanding to Wednesday to Sunday during the high season.Alongside higher-end food, the bar will feature six wine taps, Mountain House ale, craft lager, and mainstream beers, along with “Beamish and a drop” of local Clonakilty Distillery whiskey for €10.“And Cara’s planning on opening a lemonade stall,” say the new hands behind the bar.Meanwhile, another hospitality venture is also preparing to open in Clonakilty town.A new restaurant, The Nest, will open in the former Indulge/Mio’s first-floor premises on Connolly Street under a lease agreed through Hodnett Forde.Operators Arpita Pandey, who has a hospitality background, and her partner Arthur Davis Ryan, who works in construction and is originally from Baltimore, plan to open in late April.They say the restaurant will focus on locally sourced European and seafood dishes at a “pocket-worthy” price level.DETAILS: Hodnett Forde 023-8833367, Instagram: @themountainhouse1
