'End of an era' for popular County Limerick restaurant as sale is announced

THE OWNERS of the popular restaurant Molly’s Kilfinane have announced the “end of an era” as their time in the restaurant has come to a close.

In a post on Facebook on Thursday night, September 4, the Philpot and Watson families confirmed that the restaurant will change ownership, saying: “The new chapter at Molly’s will begin in October.”

The families told their followers, many of whom are loyal customers, that it was their honour to have been “custodians” of Molly’s for 23 years, but felt it was “now time to hand over the reins to its new owners”.

“It has been a successful business long before we arrived and we have no doubt it will be successful long after we leave,” they continued.

At time of writing, close to 200 comments have been left on the post, with many followers and customers wishing the families good luck on their next chapter.

Customers thanked them for “all the laughs over the years,” with one commenter saying: “I think I had a laugh every time I was in, and I was in a lot!”

Their “fantastic meals, company and craic” were also praised, with another customer adding that they have been “a wonderful asset to the village over the years”.

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In their joint post, the owners said: “It has been our pleasure to have served you all for so long, we value all the friendships we made along the way. It was our privilege to have catered for so many of your occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, communions, etc. We even hosted a wedding reception!

“We can’t put into words how grateful we are for all your loyal support and business over almost two and a half decades.”

The statement, signed by Paul ‘Phil’ Philpott, Marie Watson, Jose O’Sullivan Philpott and Stephen Watson, thanked their “wonderful” staff over the years, adding: “For us they were like our family… we couldn’t have done it without you all.”

They advised anyone with a Molly’s gift card to use it before September 26, which is “the date that the Philpot’s and Watsons will finish our Molly’s chapter,” and assured locals that Marie will continue with her regular services to Scoil Pól, making school lunches daily.

The families added that “more details will follow,” before concluding their post with: “Although we won’t own Molly’s anymore… Molly’s will always own a little piece of us.”