About Roots Community Shop & Café

In the heart of the pretty West Limerick village of Kilmeedy, Roots Community Shop & Café carries on a proud tradition of local service that stretches back more than a century.

Rooted in Community Since 1880

The building first opened around 1880 as a haberdashery, drapery, and grocery store run by James and Ellen Gayer — and it has been a cornerstone of village life ever since.

In December 2020, the doors reopened as Roots Community Shop & Café — a welcoming social enterprise powered by local volunteers, community spirit, and a shared vision to bring new life to rural West Limerick.

Signpost says Failte go Kilmeedy on road into the village

Historic black & white photo og Geary's shop c 1920's

View from road of Roots Shop & Café building before it was converted

A bicycle is parked outside Roots Shop & Cafe

A Social Enterprise with a Local Heart

As a community-run social enterprise, Roots exists to serve local people while supporting small businesses, farmers, and food producers across West Limerick.

You’ll find shelves stocked with the best local produce — from Kilmeedy Homegrown vegetables and Guiry’s eggs to Ballyhoura Apple Farm juices, Athea Pudding, and locally made honey.

Supporting local people,
local produce,
and local progress

Roots continues to collaborate with regional food entrepreneurs, helping keep every purchase close to home.

From Farm to Fork – Fresh, Local & Delicious

At the heart of Roots is a simple belief — great food brings people together. Led by chef and manager Annemarie, the café celebrates local ingredients and home-cooked goodness.

Local produce. Homemade flavour. Honest food.

Enjoy comforting soups, hearty lunches, and light bites made in-house with seasonal ingredients from Kilmeedy Homegrown and nearby farms. From a wholesome granola pot with Ponaire coffee, to a full Irish breakfast, toasted sandwiches, wraps, and freshly baked scones, every dish is made with care and community in mind.

A cup of hot coffee and a freshly baked scone displayed on a table at Roots Café

A Warm Welcome Awaits

Roots is more than a café or shop — it’s a community hub. A relaxed, friendly space where neighbours meet, visitors stop for a chat, and everyone feels at home. The team’s warmth and hospitality have made Roots an essential part of village life in West Limerick.

More than a café — it’s where community comes together

Well Worth a Visit

Whether you’re picking up groceries, enjoying lunch with friends, or just passing through Kilmeedy, Roots offers a true taste of West Limerick hospitality. It’s a place that celebrates local food, local people, and the power of community.

Fresh food, friendly faces, and a community spirit that runs deep.

A shop volunteer smiles as she serves a young customer

About Kilmeedy Community Development Group

Rooted in Progress and Community Spirit

Since its foundation, Kilmeedy Community Development Group (KCDG) has been the driving force behind the transformation of the West Limerick village of Kilmeedy. What began as a small team of dedicated volunteers has evolved into a registered charity leading projects that enrich local life, from community spaces and childcare to festivals, wellness initiatives, and environmental restoration.

Empowering a small village with big ambition

Guided by collaboration with West Limerick Resources, Limerick City & County Council, and local residents, KCDG’s work blends vision with practicality, ensuring Kilmeedy continues to thrive for generations to come.

The Full Moon rising music festival - website homepage screenshot fullmoonrising.ie

Strategic planning, and financial responsibility

Front view of the Aras Ide building in Spring

A poster illustrates butterfly's flying - Butterfly Preschool Kilmeedy

A poster illustrates fresh vegetables available at Kilmeedy Homegrown Morning Market

Building a Stronger, Greener Kilmeedy

While the Tidy Towns group and Community Employment Scheme bring colour and care to the village through planting, painting, and upkeep, much of KCDG’s work happens behind the scenes.

Volunteers manage planning, funding applications, and partnerships that make major community projects possible — from the Áras Íde renovation to the Kilmeedy Homegrown gardens, Butterfly Preschool, and the creation of Roots Community Shop & Café.

Development that’s visible
and invisible — every day

Each project represents countless volunteer hours, strategic planning, and financial responsibility — building on a reputation as a can-do community with real results.

Investing in the Future

KCDG continues to plan ambitious developments such as the Seanie Enright Community Fields Project — a future wellness, recreation, and enterprise hub that will serve as a lasting resource for Kilmeedy and surrounding parishes.

The group’s flagship fundraiser, Full Moon Rising, alongside the Kilmeedy Lottery, supports ongoing loan repayments and future development costs.

Creating opportunities through vision and hard work

By managing finances carefully and pursuing grant funding responsibly, KCDG ensures that every euro raised directly benefits local people, facilities, and long-term community growth.

An artists sketch of Kilmeedy village and the location of various community projects

A Welcoming, Connected Community

Community is at the heart of everything KCDG does — from hosting Family Fun Days, the annual Pumpkin Patch, and Santa Experience, to running Roots, the café and shop that has become the social heartbeat of Kilmeedy.

Volunteering, events, and opportunities for everyone

Volunteering opportunities are open to all, whether you have a skill to share, time to give, or simply want to get involved. Every event, project, and cup of coffee strengthens the network of people who make Kilmeedy such a special place to live, visit, and belong.

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