North Mayo café closure signals struggles in local hospitality industry

A beloved café in Killala, The Kiosk, has announced its imminent closure.

This closure points toward the challenges facing small businesses in the local hospitality industry as thousands of owners are set to descend upon Dáil Eireann to protest the perceived failure by government to help the trade.

The café owners in Killala, along with their dedicated team, made the difficult decision to shut the doors of the café after nearly three years of serving the north Mayo community.

In a heartfelt statement on social media, the owners expressed their gratitude to loyal customers and staff who supported “The Kiosk” throughout its operation.

"After due consideration, we have made the difficult and emotional decision to close “The Kiosk”. We feel it provided a valuable amenity for the Killala community, and we hope you have enjoyed availing of the same," they wrote.

The closure is set for Saturday, October 19, with the owners encouraging customers to redeem any vouchers before the café closes for good. While the future of “The Kiosk” remains uncertain, the owners shared their hope of possibly reopening one day, with the parting words, "We do hope that someday we will once again say 'Meet at ‘The Kiosk'."

This closure adds to a growing trend of small, local businesses struggling to stay afloat amid rising operational costs and shifting market conditions.

The announcement follows concerns across the hospitality sector in Mayo and beyond as it’s the third café to cease operations in the county this month.