Knock is a small village in County Mayo with a population of less than 1000. However, each year tens of thousands of people visit it because many of them believe that the Virgin Mary along with some others appeared there in 1879.
Some years later, in 2017, I wrote a short blog post about my experience when I stopped for a coffee in Knock. You can read it here. I had just finished a job and was in need of my favourite tipple.
Now, maybe it was because I was caffeine deficient that day or the weather was miserable – it was wet and windy, but my missive, which was intended to be “tongue in cheek” was taken quite seriously by some readers – no, they weren’t happy. They were unhappy and they tried to strike me down with great vengeance and furious anger. 🙂
Knock has a huge and very impressive basilica – that’s a very big building that you have to be very quiet in. Make sure you visit it if you’re ever in the area.
However on the day in 2017 that I was in Knock many of the local cafes appeared closed and sadly, pretty rundown. Where would I get my caffeine fix? I was surprised as I had expected everything to look very pretty and shiny with the income being generated in the village from all those visitors. But unlike the basilica, they didn’t look shiny or new.
And really, when you do think about it – these places really should look better, considering all that money swirling around the local economy. But enough of this nativity – er- sorry, I meant negativity.
Fast forward to 2018
I was back in Knock about a year later … and guess what? The place looked so much better. The sun was shining and I suppose I was feeling a bit more positive. I had my morning coffee fix or two earlier so it was with a spring in my step that I chanced upon Cafe le Cheile. Sitting there amongst all the green pastures and quiet waters – like – well, like an apparition.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the lively banter from the faithful gathered outside, and I was drawn, like a moth to the light. Even the word ‘Museum’ on the sign outside couldn’t deter me from that sweet, sweet caffeine.
Inside was clean and bright with the fresh aroma of baking … and the bean. Hallelujah! The sacred bean that I had been
I had come here only to partake of the sacred, sweet caffeine … and I did partake … and the caffeine was good … and I gave thanks … and went forth and told all that I met about the good caffeine in Cafe Le Cheile. And the world was good. And everything was good. And I saw that it was good.
Therefore, people, I am happy to set the record straight.
