Monasterboice Priest Brews Up Community with Coffee Wagon
By ArdeePost Reporter
Monasterboice Parish Priest Launches Evening Coffee Wagon in Drogheda
In an inspiring blend of community spirit and caffeine, Fr Paddy Rushe, the much-loved Parish Priest of Monasterboice, has taken his lifelong passion for coffee to new heights with the launch of his very own coffee wagon, An Trucail.
Stationed outside the decommissioned St. Gerard’s Church on Mary Street in Drogheda, An Trucail serves premium barista coffee four evenings a week, from 6pm to 9pm, and is fast becoming a local favourite among residents seeking a quality caffeine fix after dark.
Fr Paddy, known affectionately online as @Paddystarbucks, is on a mission to bring evening coffee culture to Louth, inspired by the continental café lifestyle where socialising over a coffee in the evening is the norm.
“I don’t think you can get a good barista coffee in the town in the evening, unless you’re in a pub or restaurant,” Fr Paddy said. “I wanted to provide something different – a chance to relax with a proper cup of coffee in a peaceful setting.”
From Podcast to Pour Over
Fr Paddy’s coffee journey began long before An Trucail. In 2023, he launched the Beansandmore podcast – a passion project featuring interviews with coffee shop owners and baristas across Armagh, Louth, Meath, and Dublin. The podcast, now with 22 episodes, explores how local cafés serve as modern-day meeting places and hubs of community life.
“The podcast was about more than coffee,” he explains. “It was about connection, community, and those meaningful chats over a cup. That naturally evolved into wondering if I could do something myself.”
A chance encounter with a for-sale horse box near one of the podcast’s featured cafés led to months of research and reflection before Fr Paddy purchased and transformed it into a fully operating coffee wagon.
A Family-Fuelled Venture
Fr Paddy’s love for coffee is steeped in family tradition. His late sister Mary Ann, who passed away suddenly in 2017, shared his passion for a good brew. In her memory, he officially opened An Trucail on St. Stephen’s Day, a date chosen both for sentiment and practicality – few cafés are open during the post-Christmas lull.
The wagon’s name, An Trucail (Irish for “The Truck”), is a tribute to his late brother Eoin Pól, a fluent Irish speaker who died of cancer two years ago.
“Our mother taught us to make coffee as soon as we were tall enough to reach the counter,” he says. “When she retired from teaching, she even opened her own coffee shop. So really, this passion has always been at the heart of our family.”
Coffee, Community and Quiet Moments
Sourcing his beans from Dundalk-based roaster GreenBean, Fr Paddy serves expertly brewed coffee with a side of warmth and conversation. His menu is intentionally simple – no cakes or elaborate bakes, just a quality coffee and a nostalgic treat, like a KitKat or Toffee Crisp.
He also offers caffeine-free options for those worried about their sleep, joking, “Not everyone is as fearless with caffeine after dark as I am!”
Where to Find Him
Fr Paddy and An Trucail can be found regularly on Mary Street, with updates posted via:
- 🌐 www.antrucailcoffee.com
- 📱 Facebook: @AnTrucailCoffee
- 📸 Instagram: @antrucailbeansandmore
As he continues balancing parish duties with pulling perfect shots of espresso, Fr Paddy Rushe proves that community comes in many forms — sometimes even served in a compostable cup with steamed milk and a smile.