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New cocktail bar could be just the tonic for Clonakilty

June 14th, 2017 10:05 PM

By Southern Star Team

Orla and Johnny O'Donovan whose new bar is in Asna Sq.

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A brother and sister act from Clonakilty are bringing their impressive credentials to the local bar scene. 

BY EMMA CONNOLLY

A BROTHER and sister act from Clonakilty are bringing their impressive credentials to the local bar scene. 

Johnny and Orla O’Donovan run the popular Fig and Olive restaurants in both Clonakilty and Carrigaline. 

And now they are extending their interests with a vintage cocktail club on Asna Square. 

Formerly The Winery, the new venue is set to open next month and will offer a small but interesting all-day menu, featuring dishes like a West Cork burger, fish tacos and a cobb salad. 

There will also be an exciting and extensive gin and cocktail menu, as well as the usual bar drinks.

The pair have a fine pedigree, as their mum is coffee shop queen Mary-Rose O’Donovan,  who at one time had businesses throughout Cork and the UK, and can still be seen lending her expertise in both restaurants.

Their late dad John was also involved in the industry, with a nightclub and bars in the city. 

Orla says she and Johnny are hugely excited by the venture and are looking forward to trying their hands at something new. 

‘The Winery was our favourite place to go and when it closed some months back we felt we had to take matters into our own hands to make sure the space reopened. 

‘This is a new departure for us, but we didn’t want to look back on this with regret and as a missed opportunity.’

She said The Winery’s theme had been done so successfully that they knew they had to go in an entirely new direction.  

And while they are still working on a name, they say customers can expect a complete new look for the building. 

Mum-of-two Orla, who is married to  local man Conor Lowney, and dad-of-two Johnny, married to local GP Laoise Kenny, are planning a July 1st opening.

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