Dungloe is now ‘Hookd’ on coffee

Dungloe has recently seen the launch of its first coffee house, Hookd Coffee Co, which Greg and Ann Bradley opened on Lower Main Street.

This follows the highly successful Hookd coffee and ice-cream vans at St Mary's Hall in Kincasslagh. Both the vans and the coffee shop have signified the first of its kind in the town. 

The coffee shop launched in early December and is already attracting much attention. Hookd is described as “a coffee shop that serves freshly baked goods, a range of fresh sandwiches, ice cream, milkshakes and currently a winter drinks menu,” the owner, Greg, tells DonegalLive.

The interiors of Hookd Coffee Co

Predominantly take away, with the option to grab a seat, it will “serve a grab and go menu and there is enough seating for about six people but it's more for those who are waiting.” 

They stock the 2GoCup which is a reusable cup for those who would prefer to reuse rather than dispose.  The coffee shop is unique in more than one way, as it was previously a family house before renovation.

“We want a community feel to it so that we feel we are part of the community, a homely feel that people will feel comfortable coming in,” Greg says.

“The aim is for it to be almost like you're coming into someone's house for a cuppa, especially with it previously being a house it has lent itself to lead on as such, although it is a different building doing a different thing it still has that feel to it.”

This aspect adds another layer of originality to the business, attracting a different customer base than commercial properties. 

The display of freshly baked goods

Greg is originally from Greencastle in Tyrone, just outside Omagh and Ann was born in Sutton, Coldfield, in Birmingham. She has strong ties to Donegal and has been coming here from a very early age as her mother is from Burtonport and her father is a native of Annagry. 

“We got married here in 1996 and we always wanted to move here to live but it got expedited due to Covid and being able to work from home,” Greg adds.

Greg works as a consultant supporting renewable energy projects including wind farms, solar farms and battery storage across Ireland and the UK. Greg and Ann eventually settled down in Cruit. Then, after the pandemic when some normality rolled back in, they began their business venture in November of 2022.

It all started with the Hookd coffee van, which quickly became very popular in the area, situated in Kincasslagh where the Atlantic rolls in. The van served speciality coffee as well as sweet treats. It’s currently hibernating for the winter and will be back in full tilt when the evenings stretch. Until then, the coffee shop, which is open seven days a week, will keep things ticking through winter. 

Eve Doherty and Nia Boyle alongside Hookd ice cream van

Alannah O'Donnell pictured beside Hookd Coffee van

The van will then run in conjunction with the coffee shop serving different areas as “I think there is a lot of people that continue to use the van,” Greg says.

“The big thing for us is it really helped us integrate into the community. We got to meet all of our neighbours and people from all around the area. Also, there was a gap in the locality for this type of service and it functions as a meeting point.

“The Hookd logo and branding are very clearly linked to the Wild Atlantic Way, which is very fitting given our location. That caught my eye and I felt it was made for here.

“We source all of our produce locally and we are very grateful people have been loyal. If we can develop our local trade, that's what's important to us, a customer base all around, the holiday trade will come and go.”