Louth President Joe Biden chatting to Bobby Wain and Jerome McAteer when he visited McAteers The Foodhouse in April 2023 Bobby Wain with US president Joe Biden in the much-loved cafe Ryan Tubridy with Jerome McAteer at the cafe. Photo: Facebook/The Food House President Joe biden poses with staff in The Food House, Clanbrassil Steet, Dundalk Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tánaiste Michéal Martin. The Dundalk cafe visited by US president Joe Biden during his trip to Ireland in April last year has ceased trading, with owners blaming rising costs for the tough decision to close the doors of the popular Clanbrassil Street establishment.
In a heartfelt post on social media, owners Jerome McAteer and Bobby Wain of McAteers The Foodhouse and Catering and said: “It has been a difficult few years (as it has been for everyone else) and has become harder by the day to keep the ship afloat. Brexit did not help and Covid changed so much.” They said that the challenges facing the hospitality industry, such as high food costs, rising energy bills, packaging and just basic supplies, ”together with this Government’s insistence on keeping the Vat rate at 13.
5pc instead of 9pc and all the extras they have thrown onto the small employer, has made it impossible for us to continue trading”. They said that as much as they would love to stay open, there is only so much they can charge for a sandwich before it becomes a total rip-off to customers. “As it stands, the way we like to run our business, means our current revenue is falling short to keep the doors open.
So we have decided to close before the waters get too rough.” The dog-loving couple said that they’d had “a brilliant 15 years” during which time they “met so many fantastic people and dogs” and it is because of this that they shall be eternally grateful. "We would like to sincerely thank each and everyone of you, whether you are an old regular, a current regular or just an occasional customer for spending your hard-earned money here in McAteers.
We feel the shop was like its own little community and had become a safe space where many of you felt comfortable to come into. We certainly hope this was the case.” Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tánaiste Michéal Martin.
The cafe had earned a well-deserved reputation for being dog-friendly and Mr McAteer wrote that “probably the thing myself and Bob are most proud off is helping to create a positive and loving environment to all our beloved dogs. I hope we have been able to show that they really are man’s best friend and that once they are well behaved, sitting with you in any cafe/ bar etc should be the norm.” "Being able to shine a light on all the great work that Dundalk Dog Rescue, the amazing volunteers do, has also given us great pleasure and even though we won’t be here any longer, the two of us shall continue to fight their corner,” he said.
The craic and laughs we have had over the past 15 years have made it all worthwhile They thanked all their fellow traders and local businesses in the town who always supported them, especially those on Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk. Their biggest “thank you” was to their wonderful staff, whom they described as their own little family. “Like any family, there have been a few arguments along the way, but they have been few and far between.
The craic and laughs we have had over the past 15 years have made it all worthwhile. We have always had each other’s backs, and myself and Bob are just gutted that we can’t have your backs this one last time. We love you all and wish you nothing but good health and happiness in the future.
” Signing off, Mr McAteer said that they’d had an “absolute blast” and will be grateful to their dying day to the people of Dundalk and all the surrounding areas for "always being so kind to us and allowing us to spend such a long time on the greatest street in the country”. Speaking last year about the preparations for the visit of Mr Biden, Mr Wain said: “We had the Secret Service and the gardaí coming in, and were locked down for two days. We left the building on Monday night with the gardai here with their sniffer dogs and snipers on the roof.
Then we were locked in here for six or seven hours before he arrived. It was all so surreal.”The dog-loving US president, the first to have a rescue dog in the White House, immediately struck a bond with the cafe owners.
“He grabbed the two of us and gave us the biggest bear hug. He came down into the restaurant and was talking about family and dogs,” said Mr Wain. “We told him how we had raised €25,000 at our wedding and he was blown away by that.
He couldn’t believe that the people of the town had given €550,000 in total to build a (dog) rescue centre.” Mr Biden spent over 20 minutes in the deli and restaurant, happily chatting with staff and posing for photos. “His team were trying to get him to leave, but he just kept talking and walked down the back to look at our wall of dog photos,” Mr Wain added.
"He hugged our two staff members who have special needs, Conor Halpenny from Louth village and Einri McMahon from the Point Road, and got his photo taken with them.” While much of their conversation was about dogs, Mr Wain also took the opportunity to tell Mr Biden that Dundalk was multi-cultural town that welcomed people from many countries. Wanting to give the President a personal gift to mark his visit to their restaurant, he presented him with a gold medal won by his grandfather Jim Beckett, who was one of Ireland’s top swimmers and athletes.
US president Joe Biden visits McAteer's while on a walkabout through Dundalk. Photo: PA “It’s an 18-caret gold medal and I just felt it was something beautiful to give him. He said he’s going to keep it in a display case in the Oval Office and share its story and then send it back to me when his presidency is over.
” For staff member Patricia Moriarty, the President’s visit was particularly special as she grew up in the US and is an American citizen. "He was fantastic. He’s just lovely and we had the best of time.
It was such great craic,” she said of his visit. “We knew for two weeks that he was coming and were very lucky that we were picked.” The news that the much-loved cafe, which also included a deli, gift and homewares section, as well as outside catering, has closed has been greeted with sadness by customers and fellow traders, many of whom have shared their memories of visiting it down the years.
The Dundalk Business Improvement District Scheme (Bids) team wrote “you will be missed so much, guys, because your contribution to Clanbrassil Street has been so much more than you will ever give yourselves credit for, the street will be lonely without you there!!! We have enjoyed getting to know you and wish you happiness in your future endeavours”. The owners of the Spirit Store music venue wrote: “To our good friends in McAteers The Food House & Catering, there are no words that can express our deep sadness at hearing this news. We are just gutted for you both, and for your wonderful staff.
The community you helped to foster on Clanbrassil Street will feel a great loss today, and Dundalk town will be the poorer for it.” Ryan Tubridy with Jerome McAteer at the cafe. Photo: Facebook/The Food House "As a fellow business owner in the town, I understand and feel every word you've written,” Grainne Wynne wrote.
“the hospitality sector is on its knees and unfortunately the Government won’t realise or care until they are at home making their own lunch and cutting their own hair. A difficult decision to make but now that it’s done, focus on the good you have done, the happy memories you have helped create over the years and the stamp that you have left on our town. Go with your heads held high and be proud of all you have achieved.
” The team at Byrnes Chemist on Church Street said they were “absolutely gutted to hear this sad news. You guys were the heart of the street. You will be sadly missed by everyone.
Thanks so much for all the great food and more importantly all the chats and laughs”. Bobby Wain with US president Joe Biden in the much-loved cafe "So so sad to read this, another fabulous business gone from the town something has to be done to help small businesses; the council rates alone are crippling. We wish you guys the very best in the future and you will be sorely missed,” said The Study Academy.
This is the third such business in the Co Louth to announce that it is closing its doors in recent weeks, following on from the closure of The Townhouse Bar and Restaurant and The Coffee Corner. The Boyne German Shepherd Dog Club hosted a heartwarming memorial dog show on Sunday in honour of their dear friend and local businessman, the late Jim Corcoran. Known affectionately as the "The German Shepherd Dog Gentleman," Jim was a beloved .
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