Café Rua was opened by Ann McMahon in New Antrim Street, Castlebar over ten years ago with the aim of producing uncomplicated food using seasonal and local ingredients. The business that Ann started is now run by her children Aran and Colleen, and the aim remains the same. We now have two branches of Café Rua, both in Castlebar. The original Café is still to be found on new Antrim street, and we opened a second branch called Rua on Spencer Street in August of 2008. This latter branch has two levels and features our delicatessen where it's possible to buy many of the local ingredients that we've been using in our café over the last decade. Rua First Birthday Pics Can't see the slideshow? Click here to download Flash.

The McMahon family with Tommy Waldron (red geansai) and a bottle of Club orange, Moneen, Castlebar. Good Food Ireland Member Bridgestone Award Winner

'Joyous grub, packed with flavour, with fresh, herbaceous tastes and the sheen of TLC. There is no greater local hero than this fantastic destination.'

John and Sally Mc Kenna's Bridgestone Irish Food Guide

'Upstairs the Café was buzzing. My Mum and I were dazzled by the delicious smells and sights coming from the kitchen, and so with rumbling stomachs we quickly ordered a platter of local cheeses and the house pate which is served with a beetroot relish, pickles and fresh local salads, which were so delicious, and to finish we shared a mouth-watering lemon meringue.
I love everything about Rua - the food was fabulous, the service so friendly, and the space is super stylish'

Clodagh Mc Kenna, The Irish Examiner, 25/07/09

'Aran and his sister Colleen McMahon have been working hard for the last ten years, building up quite a network of local suppliers whose produce they have showcased superbly in their home-style cafe cooking... Now they have decided to make all this great produce - plus some of their own creations- available to take home from their new second outlet in the town. The split-level building contains a cafe winebar space upstairs overlooking what they conceived as an "indoor market" downstairs. Pop in for a lunch of spiced carrot and lentil soup with home made brown bread, pick up some fishcakes for dinner, which you could serve with some Rua tomato and apple chutney and Stephen Gould's leaves, and follow up with a selection of local Irish cheeses from the Sheridans-supplied selection... this is no "oil and vinegar shop", promises Aran, but rather a store of good food providing all a small Irish town might need, served up by passionate staff who know and love what they do.'

Aoife Carrigy 'Delicatessen of the Month' Food and Wine Magazine Dec/Jan 09