Perry sisters decide not to renew Skibbereen lease

BALTIMORE’S enterprising Perry sisters have decided not to renew their lease on a restaurant in Skibbereen’s town centre.

Last year, Tessa Perry and her sisters – who own and run the award-winning Glebe Café in Baltimore – took over the landmark building at Dillon’s Corner at Bridge Street.

The move came after another award-winning restaurateur, Carmel Somers, previously decided to close her Good Things restaurant in the same premises to focus on other projects.

Tessa told The Southern Star: ‘After one year in both we found we had too much going on and were spread too thin. It meant that both businesses were suffering slightly.’

‘We decided to consolidate and retreat back to base,’ added Tessa, who said they enjoyed their one-year sojourn in Skibbereen.

‘We had some great nights there with gigs and the social club – they are the things I will miss.’

Tessa believes Dillion’s Corner in the heart of Skibbereen is ‘a wonderful location’ and she expressed the hope that it will soon enjoy a new reincarnation.

The Perry sisters, Tessa, Kez, Jo-Jo, and Mia, who is a silent partner, have worked in the family business in Baltimore for the last 15 years.

In 2015, they beat off stiff competition to win the Best Café accolade out of 31,000 entries in a high profile national competition.

Their parents, Peter and Jean, purchased the old rectory and surrounding five-acres in 1989. 

They got their start in the catering business by serving teas to the people who had come to view their garden.

Over time, the café, like the gardens, continued to grow and flourish, but it was only in recent years that the siblings took over.  

And now it’s back to ‘business as usual’ in Baltimore for them.