Project Summary

This project was to fund the conversion of the historic Poet’s Cottage in Camross into a community café, creating six new jobs, and providing training to six individuals. Located at the centre of the village, Poet’s Cottage Café is a replica of a traditional Irish thatched cottage. It was originally constructed in the late 1990s as a Millennium Heritage Project by a local FÁS scheme. The cottage is named in honour of Patrick Ryan, a poet who lived in Camross from 1750 to 1825 and wrote about the area’s natural beauty and its people.

Overall Objective:

• The grant enables the Camross Heritage group to develop the building into a community café on the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
• To fund the conversion of the historic Poet’s Cottage into a community café, creating six new jobs, and providing certified training to six individuals.

Funding Programme:

EU Just Transition Fund

Project Partner(s):

Camross Heritage Ltd

Project details:

Delivery Period:	Project Funding Amount:
1 July 2024 to 31 March 2026	€265,403

For more information on project:

Website: https://laois.ie/heritage-and-conservation/laois-heritage-trail/poets-cottage

Contact: 087 410 6493

Related news and media:

• Read some news articles about this project – How a Laois community turned a thatched cottage into a café | Irish Independent and Great excitement as Poet’s Cottage officially opens in Camross.