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David Leonard and Lucie Hanrahan, who have just opened Ugly Mug on Edward Street. Photo by Dermot Crean
LUCIE Hanrahan and David Leonard are a busy couple these days.
As if having their first baby together three weeks ago wasn’t enough, the Tralee couple have just opened a new coffee shop, the curiously titled Ugly Mug, on Edward Street this week.
Lucie and David returned to Ireland in April after spending five years working in New Zealand.
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“Dave was working in demolition over there, but he always wanted to open a coffee shop so when we decided to come back to Tralee he did it,” said Lucie, from Glenard in Monavalley.
‘Ugly Mug’ — “we were looking for a name that was a bit different and that people would remember” said Lucie — has been very busy in its opening few days, serving coffees, teas, pastries, cakes, buns, toasties, granola, soup and more. Its interior is inspired by coffee shops they frequented while in Christchurch.
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“We opened here in Edward Street because we felt there was an opening for a coffee shop on this side of town. With Lidl nearby, there’s more of a footfall now and there’s also offices nearby so we feel this side of town was crying out for it,” added Lucie, who gave birth to baby Ruby just three weeks ago.
So while David, a former Austin Stacks senior footballer from Caherslee, is running the business, Lucie has her hands full too. Best of luck to them both in the venture.
Good Luck to Lucie Hanrahan and David Leonard & The Ugly Mug coffee shop.
My childhood memories recall Edward Street having more life and ambiance in the past.
I feel the ESB shop and Mc Cowan’s close was so devastating.
But, now Lidl has changed things by regenerating and opening up Mc Cowan’s.
The old ESB shop did not stay a retail unit and sadly became Intreo 🙁
The Ugly Mug coffee shop was a lovely little shop owned run by a lovely couple of senior citizens.
The Ugly Mug coffee shop will bring some much needed ambiance to Edward Street for sure.
Always nice to see a young Irish couple return and “make a go of it” at home – best wishes.
Best of luck ,great to hear of new business starting up.
Do you have espresso?