Hospitality duo John and Julie Finn are new owners of Aherne’s Seafood Restaurant in Youghal

TOP-class eaterie and Blue Book townhouse, Aherne’s Seafood Restaurant in Youghal, Co Cork, has been acquired by well-known hospitality duo John and Julie Finn who currently run Finns’ Farmcut in Kinsale.

The couple confirmed to the Irish Examiner that they are the new owners of one of the country’s best-known seafood restaurants, whose roots stretch back more than a century.

The husband-and-wife team bought the premises from the Fitzgibbon family who ran it for three generations. John’s family background — generations of butchers — means the seafood menu at Aherne’s can expect a shake-up.

Aherne’s Restaurant, Youghal

“We ran Dillon’s Restaurant in Timoleague for about four years before moving to Kinsale, where we ran Finns’ Table (later rebranded as Finns’ Farmcut) for about 14 years, so Aherne’s is our next move,” Julie said, adding that it will be their first time owning their own business premises, as opposed to leasing it.

“Everyone knows Aherne’s and the family has been lovely to deal with and they are delighted it’s passing on to like-minded people,” she said.

Like the Fitzgibbons, the Finn family business is multigenerational, albeit it’s anchored in meat rather than fish.

John’s parents are fourth generation butchers and run a butcher shop in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, which has been serving the local community since 1890, while the Fitzgibbons started their business at 163 North Main St, Youghal, in 1923 at a smaller premises.

Brothers David and Johnny Fitzgibbon with their wives Gaye and Katie at Aherne’s Townhouse & Seafood Restaurant Youghal, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Finns’ Farmcut is known for its farm-to-table approach using local produce and meat sourced from the Finn family farm, as well as fresh catch from nearby waters.

John, a respected chef, well known in Irish food circles, said they will continue the “amazing prawn and lobster” dishes at Aherne’s.

He said they would add their own twist, but they also intend to introduce meat dishes, “organic, cooked on oak coals”, which are prized for improving flavour and cooking quality.

In preparation for their move to Youghal, the Finns have closed off reservations from next June at their restaurant on Main St, Kinsale and while they don’t yet have a start date for their new venture, they envisage it will be a quick move to maintain the business as a going concern.

“We’ll be keeping Aherne’s going. It could mean finishing here on a Saturday and starting at Aherne’s the following Wednesday,” they said.

While Julie has assisted in the kitchen in Kinsale since the pandemic, the move to Aherne’s will see her return to front-of-house.

The couple will focus initially on bar food and running the guest accommodation, ramping up the service as they “find their feet”.

The scale of the new operation is substantially bigger than their 50-seater restaurant in Kinsale.

Aherne’s, Youghal. Picture: Karen Dempsey

Aherne’s has a 60-seater restaurant, with room to seat another 60 in the bar, as well as outdoor seating in a courtyard, and there’s the added challenge of accommodation.

The pair — who fortunately already have a house in Youghal — are undaunted. The business they are taking over is highly rated in a number of guide books and has won many awards over three decades, while the luxury townhouse accommodation, which includes 14 large en suite bedrooms plus owners’ apartment, is part of Ireland’s elite Blue Book network of country houses, manors, and top restaurants.

The Blue Book’s voucher scheme has been a key element of Ahernes’ strong turnover figures, the family has said.

The property has been sold by Brian Gleeson of Brian Gleeson Property for an undisclosed sum, having gone to market initially for €2m, although that guide was subsequently reduced.