A new community events experience is launching in Letterkenny with a simple but radical idea: leave your phone in your pocket, sit down with strangers, and see what happens.
Clann & Co, an Irish social enterprise building communities through Offline Cafés, creative workshops, culture nights, outdoor adventures and alternative social experiences, is bringing its first Offline Café to Brú Lab in Letterkenny.
The Offline Café concept is straightforward. People arrive, put their phones aside, and spend two hours playing games, sharing conversation and meeting new people in a warm, relaxed setting. Guests are encouraged to bring along whatever helps them unwind and connect — a board game, a deck of cards, a craft project, some colouring — anything that gets hands busy and conversation flowing. No agenda, no awkwardness — just the kind of easy, unhurried connection that most of us are quietly craving more of.
The launch comes at a time when excessive screen use is becoming one of Ireland’s most talked-about social issues.
Clann & Co has been organising events and building community across the Northwest since 2024, and Letterkenny feels like a natural next step.
Speaking about the launch, Clann & Co founder Cassie Jane said “People are craving real connection again. Over the last two years we’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when strangers come together through simple shared experiences — board games, craft projects, sea swimming, surfing, cultural evenings. Something shifts when you put the phone down and just show up for each other. Letterkenny is full of great people and we are so delighted to be launching our Offline Café here, in partnership with Kyle at Brú Lab, who just gets it completely.”
Kyle, owner of Brú Lab, added “We’re buzzing to be part of this. At Brú Lab we’re big believers in proper coffee, proper chats, and occasionally making people look up from their phones long enough to remember they have friends. The Offline Café feels like a perfect fit — good coffee, no scrolling, and a room full of people actually connecting in real life.”
Beyond the Offline Café, Clann & Co will be bringing a full programme of events to Letterkenny including creative workshops, social meetups, surfing days, Sea, Sauna and Slice experiences, Irish Language Cafés, outdoor and adventure gatherings, and cultural evenings.
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The events are open to adults of all ages and are designed to be genuinely welcoming — whether you’re new to the area, looking to expand your social circle, or simply ready for something a little different.
Cassie Jane added “We hope the Letterkenny Offline Café becomes a model for what’s possible across the Northwest. Come along, bring a friend or come on your own — honestly, coming on your own is half the point. We’d love to see you there.”
The Clann & Co Offline Café takes place on Wednesday 17th June, 6PM to 8PM at Brú Lab, Glenview Retail Park, Letterkenny.