Mayo mourns the loss of food champion and hospitality 'icon'
The late Ann McMahon.
The founder of one of the west of Ireland’s best known café’s has passed away.
Mayo food champion and hospitality ‘icon’ Ann McMahon was the original founder of Café Rua in Castlebar, Ann passed away peacefully on Saturday.
Predeceased by her parents John and Annie and her sister Mary, she is deeply regretted by her loving family: daughter Colleen, son Aran, brother Paddy, grandsons Rory and Paddy, son-in-law Cian, daughter-in-law Anna, sister-in-law Peggy, nieces Áine and Tracy, nephew Johnny, relatives, neighbours, colleagues and friends.
Ann will repose at Coady’s Funeral Home, Castlebar, tomorrow evening (Tuesday) from 5.30pm with removal at 7pm to Saint Aloysius Church, Breaffy. Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday morning at 12 noon. Ann will be laid to rest afterwards in the Old Cemetery, Castebar.
In 1995 Ann founded Café Rua on New Antrim Street in Castlebar. She had previously worked at Breaffy House Hotel where her delicious cooking was held in high esteem.
She remained fully involved in Rua for the next two decades, cooking daily and creating her hugely popular baked treats. Her famed apple tart featured in the pages of the critically acclaimed Kai cookbook. The café Ann established 30 years ago is now run by her children, Aran and Colleen, and employs more than 40 people across two businesses.
There have been many online tributes to Ann following the sad news of her passing. “Lovely memories of Ann in the Breaffy House years as the best chef there ever was,” read one message of sympathy, “She was such a wonderful person and inspiration to so many of us,” said another. “Ann was an inspiration to many many young people, always teaching, encouraging, coaching, mentoring and sharing her vast knowledge of food. The hospitality world has lost an icon,” a tribute to Ann stated.
