A working post office in the Co Galway village of Kilcolgan has been home to Gran Grans Pantry since 2021. You can't miss it with its cheerful yellow paintwork, hanging baskets and welcoming outdoor tables - and, alongside a rich selection of Irish artisan produce and gifts, you'll find their own range of condiments, jams and sauces for sale, as well as delicious sausage rolls, pastries, cakes, breads and hot drinks to take away.
It's run by husband and wife team Nigel and Magaly Murray, who have a strong background in hospitality having run a restaurant in Paris. They set out to make quality Irish artisan food products with no preservatives, artificial colouring or flavourings and also an extensive gluten-free range. Nigel has been a chef for more than 30 years and he takes care of production and sales, while Magaly runs the business behind the scenes.
They soon needed extra production space and also wanted to sell takeaway food as well as other Irish artisan food and gifts, so they moved into the Post Office in the nearby village of Kilcolgan. Everything is made fresh on the day and sometimes sells out before noon, but they always make sure to replenish stocks and keep their customers happy.
There are in-house pastries, breads and cakes every day, including their best-selling sausage rolls, scones, croissants and loaves, as well as collaborations with artisan producers such as Toonsbridge cheese (in their halloumi, local honey and pistachio pastry for example) and Inch House black pudding pastry with apple sauce, walnuts and red onion... Everything is made fresh from scratch and it has become a real community hub as well as an alternative to a service station stop-off point on a main road.
Their products well worth seeking out for their sheer deliciousness, and also the strong commitment to sustainability. Praise too for breathing new life into a village with a thriving hub, where post office trade means customers can stop for coffee and a snack as well as stocking up on local produce.
One to keep in mind next time you're travelling in Galway - you'll be glad you found it.
