Sally O’Brien launches new Farmgate restaurant in Lismore after Midleton flood

Sally O’Brien has opened a new Farmgate restaurant on Main Street in Lismore, Co Waterford, following the loss of the original Farmgate in Midleton after the 2020 floods.

The Midleton premises, owned by O’Brien’s mother Máróg since 1987, was an old tyre shed with a galvanised roof that absorbed floodwater, causing structural damage that engineers deemed irreparable for a food business. The closure forced the company into redundancy payments and wiped out its finances.

Determined to keep her team employed, O’Brien, a single mother of two, decided to start afresh in Lismore. The property, a former pub that closed in 2002, was purchased by Máróg in 2018 with plans for a wine bar that were halted by the COVID‑19 pandemic.

In January 2024 a team of local tradespeople began refurbishing the heritage building, preserving features such as stained‑glass doors and original flooring while making the space commercially viable. O’Brien confirmed that head chef David Doran agreed to join the new venture, solidifying her decision to reopen.

The new Farmgate aims to retain the charm of the historic structure while providing a modern dining experience for the Lismore community.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Tom Fisk / Pexels.