Beloved Dublin café forced to close by government

The owner has said the way his staff are being treated is a 'disgrace'.

Based in the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle, the café was set to mark 25 years in operation this July. However, owner Abraham Phelan has been forced to shut its doors due to security arrangements linked to Ireland’s EU Presidency later this year.

Over the course of the six month presidency, the castle is set to host several conferences, events and receptions.

Speaking on The Claire Byrne Show, Mr Phelan revealed compensation has not been offered to him or his staff following the loss of their livelihood.

“Actually, the problem is that we haven't heard much. We have been inquiring about it since December last year because we heard the rumor about Dublin Castle going to be closed for the EU presidency.” 

The café's 18 staff members, some of which have worked at the café for decades, as well as around 30 summer staff, will now be looking for new employment. 

These staff members are Mr Phelan's main concern, and he wishes them to be compensated after being treated 'disgracefully'.

“I'll be honest with you, my concern and my worry was about my staff. I had a meeting with my staff and I said to them, ‘This is the story, I haven't a clue what's going on.’” 

Currently, the 72-year-old owner plans to 'keep going until the 15th of June like nothing's going on' before shutting the doors for good and retiring.

“A decision has been made actually by the management of the Silk Road that we are not going back, we're done," he admitted.

“Because I'll be honest with you, if you sit down with my staff and you see the state of them, it's actually a disgrace the way we've been treated.”

Mr Phelan is holding out hope that his staff will be compensated and that an official will be 'held responsible' for the situation brought upon the café.