![\"Mountain](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4126378_13_articleinline_Mountain_20House_20image_20003.jpg\" "\\"Mountain")
Mountain House, Ardfield, Co Cork.<\/p>\nA tiny West Cork seaside community this week celebrated the reopening of a local bar and restaurant after two years in the dark \u2014 while also rallying to prevent the possible closure of its creamery branch.<\/p>\n
On a scenic stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ardfield village\u2019s Mountain House Bar and Restaurant hosted a packed \u201csoft, locals-only opening\u201d at the weekend. From today, the venue begins a gradual rollout of its food offering \u2014 just in time for the West Cork Rally passing its door this weekend \u2014 with plans to fully ramp up in April for the busy hospitality season.<\/p>\n
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\u2019Sullivan, who has family links to Union Hall and Bishopstown, along with their two children \u2014 Cara, five, and Niall, almost two \u2014 \u201cand he\u2019ll be the first on the barred list,\u201d jokes John of their youngest.<\/p>\n
Mountain House, Ardfield, Co Cork.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Allta restaurant.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Given the capacity of the commercial kitchen, plans are also well advanced to provide hot school meals to three local schools under contract.<\/p>\n
Entrepreneurial duo Culloty and O\u2019Sullivan \u2014 who holds a master\u2019s degree in community development \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The couple moved to Clonakilty in 2022, buying a home from local builder and Mountain House owner Patrick O\u2019Sullivan at The Miles, before later agreeing a lease deal with him for the Ardfield premises.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Patrick O\u2019Sullivan and his wife Carol bought the Mountain House for a strong \u20ac700,000 during the downturn, investing in renovations and operating it as a family business for a period.<\/p>\n
They later leased the premises to local siblings Caitr\u00edona and Mags Hegarty, who ran it successfully before stepping back at the end of 2023.<\/p>\n
After O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s 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 \u20ac500,000 AMV.<\/p>\n
The property attracted interest locally, as well as from buyers in the US and Northern Ireland, but \u201cJohn and Niamh were the best fit\u201d, according to estate agent Andy Donoghue of Hodnett Forde, who said it was taken \u201con a five-year lease on flexible terms\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPubs aren\u2019t working in lots of rural areas, but this part of West Cork is different, there\u2019s the likes of O\u2019Donovan\u2019s Fishers Cross near us which is flying. People come out from Clonakilty and to places like Monk\u2019s 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,\u201d says Mr Culloty, who plans to open from Thursday to Sunday initially, expanding to Wednesday to Sunday during the high season.<\/p>\n
Alongside higher-end food, the bar will feature six wine taps, Mountain House ale, craft lager, and mainstream beers, along with \u201cBeamish and a drop\u201d of local Clonakilty Distillery whiskey for \u20ac10.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Cara\u2019s planning on opening a lemonade stall,\u201d say the new hands behind the bar.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another hospitality venture is also preparing to open in Clonakilty town.<\/p>\n
A new restaurant, The Nest, will open in the former Indulge\/Mio\u2019s first-floor premises on Connolly Street under a lease agreed through Hodnett Forde.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
They say the restaurant will focus on locally sourced European and seafood dishes at a \u201cpocket-worthy\u201d price level.<\/p>\n
DETAILS: Hodnett Forde 023-8833367, Instagram: @themountainhouse1<\/a>\n <\/p>\n