A TV chef with RTÉ has said that she’s ‘devastated’ following the sudden closure of her cafe.
Margaret ‘Mags’ Roche, a staple of the Today Show with Maura and Dáithí, has run the Little Acorn cafe in Wicklow for the last six years, as well as appearing on the show regularly and being the resident chef at Ballybeg House.
However, in a video shared to Instagram, Margaret confirmed that the cafe would be closing in just over a week — stunning her friends and customers.
Saying that it was ‘the hardest video’ she’s had to make, Margaret said that she ‘never imagined’ that the cafe would have to close. However, the Baltinglass building where the cafe is located has been sold, so the cafe will be closing on August 23.
‘It’s devastating. I’m devastated, my staff are devastated and my customers will be as well,’ Margaret said in the emotional video.
‘This has all happened very quickly and completely unexpectedly, so please bear with us over the coming weeks as we try to process everything and figure out what the next chapter looks like.’
Despite the sale of the building and the cafe’s closure, Margaret reassured fans of the cafe that Little Acorn as a whole won’t be disappearing, saying: ‘There will be a next step.’
‘[I’m] not sure what it’s going to be, but Little Acorn is alive and kicking and well in my heart, and it will continue to be.’
‘While this chapter is coming to an end, my passion for food, for hospitality, and for our community certainly isn’t,’ Margaret added in the caption. ‘Little Acorn isn’t disappearing forever, it’s simply changing. I truly hope you’ll continue this journey with us as we begin an exciting new chapter.’
People were very upset at the cafe’s closure, with Rozanna Purcell commenting: ‘Very sad to hear this. Wishing you and all the team the best’ alongside a number of heart emojis.
‘Ah lads, so sorry to hear this. I saw the For Sale sign but hoped it wouldn’t affect you. Can’t wait to see what you do next though, I’m sure it will be wonderful,’ another wrote, while another added: ‘So sorry to hear this Mags. That’s heartbreaking. I’ll have to pay a visit over the next few weeks.’
Margaret is a regular contributor to The Today Show on RTÉ One, and is the resident chef at Ballybeg House in Wicklow.
The final day that the Little Acorn will be in operation is August 23, Margaret said.
