Tarts bursting with apple and rhubarb, scrumptious scones, home-made raspberry jam and mouth-watering sponge cakes are what lie in front of me when I entered the main restaurant at The Forge, Kilbride Cross, Co Carlow, last week. I arrived just after the busy lunchtime burst, where I was met with a smile by owner Mary Jordan.

Of course, anyone who regularly travels the main Enniscorthy to Carlow road is at least likely to be familiar with the building, if not the restaurant itself. The beautiful granite exterior complimented by the red doors and bright yellow windows are sure to catch your eye as you pass by.

As the name suggests, The Forge was once home to a blacksmith’s forge and stood alongside the local post office and a small country shop. Being situated at a four-cross roads, it was a hive of activity and established itself as a popular meeting place for locals down through the years.

However, when the opportunity arose back in 1996 to buy The Forge, Mary and her late husband Peadar grasped it with both hands.

“We always identified it as a business site. Between the forge, the shop and the post office, there was always something going on there. We could see its potential. Deep down, I believed it could be developed into a cafe or a restaurant. I remember, at the time, some people told us we were mad. But we went with our instinct and bought it,” recalled Mary.

Photographs taken back in 1996 gave me a clear vision of what the Jordan’s were facing into. The 120-year -old property was in poor repair – part of the roof had caved in, walls were falling down and the site was overgrown. But the restoration project begun in earnest, with Peadar rolling up his sleeves and getting the ball in motion. Always trying to maintain the integrity and character of the site, original flag stones were cleaned and touched up, part of the ceiling upstairs was salvaged, internal walls were coated with natural lime and I had the pleasure of walking up the original staircase. Sash windows had to be replaced but the original front door, now painted bright red, was spared and natural slate was sourced for the roof. Of course, the iconic Carlow granite walls were reinstated and the yellow-painted fascia board is a replica of the original. Finally, to create the ultimate cosy atmosphere, two wood-burning stoves were installed along with a large open fireplace.

Despite taking a number of years to restore, Peadar and Mary finally opened the doors of their new restaurant in 2001 and have never looked back.

“It was very exciting at the time to see it all coming together and to finally open for business,” Mary remembered.

Home baking and local produce has been the trademark for success at The Forge. Between sourcing free-range eggs from Mary Gittens in Ballon, cheese from Coolattin cheddar, meat from local butcher Michael McAssey and fruit from Malone’s Fruit Farm, Mary has built up a loyal base of local suppliers and, more importantly, a name for quality wholesome food.

“I don’t buy cheap ingredients – I try and use good-quality local produce and I like to support as many local suppliers as possible,” she said.

Apart from sourcing local produce, she also provides local employment.

“I am blessed with good, loyal staff. Some have been with me since we opened our doors 15 years ago. During the busy holiday period and weekends, we also take on some local students to help out,” explained Mary.

Some of her specialities include British Queen Carne potatoes in their jackets, Goatsbridge smoked trout, fresh homemade scones with cream and raspberry jam, and freshly ground coffee. She has established a reputation for the finest home baking and good old-fashioned Irish hospitality, to which I can vouch for. While I was there, Mary made it her business to chat to the customers, some of whom she hadn’t seen in a long time and were just passing through.

In 2007, the Jordan’s added a brand new purpose-built commercial kitchen complete with cold store, all of which blends in exceptionally well with the quaintness and character of the original building. They also extended the car park and landscaped the whole site with herbaceous beds and specimen trees, bringing a burst of colour and lots of shelter. The fact that there is plenty of free car parking is a big winner.

“Over the years, we have built up a good traditional Sunday trade, serving between 90 to 100 dinners. We have our regulars and see the same people every week.

“Others come in once a month, while those going to the ferry might call in once a year. It really varies. They come from all over – Britain, Australia, the US. I notice that quite a few families come in to get a flavour of the country ambience or as one customer described it, the ‘countryesque feel’.

Mary, along with her daughter, also manages the Walled Garden Cafe at Altamont Gardens during the summer months. Just half a mile away up the road, these beautiful gardens, which attract thousands of visitors each year, work hand in hand with the Forge. Visitors to Altamont sometimes make it their business to grab a bite of lunch at The Forge before setting off on their homeward journey. And if that wasn’t enough, Mary also caters for private functions, such as parties and special occasions.

But after 15 years of establishing, growing and nurturing her family business, Mary has decided to retire. She has put the iconic Forge Restaurant on the market.

“I have really enjoyed it, meeting people from all walks of life. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be at it.”

Today, The Forge restaurant seats 55-60 people across three cosy dining areas. Apart from the purpose-built kitchen and cold room, there is also a separate wash-up room and a reception area, with a shower room and two large bedrooms/store rooms located upstairs. Outside, there is the original store house and a large carpark area that even has a sandpit for the children.

Other features include three-phase electricity, wheelchair accessibility, a large gas tank that supplies the ovens, and access to WiFi broadband.

Standing on circa 3.28 acres, The Forge Restaurant is currently for sale by private treaty as a going concern through Sherry FitzGerald McDermott, Carlow.

“I would really love to see someone carry on the business or run a similar-type business. For over 100 years, The Forge has been a sort of meeting place both for locals and for those who are just passing by. It would be wonderful for that tradition to continue,” smiled Mary.

Business continues as usual at The Forge, opening daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm.