50% surge in pizza sales signals shift in Glengarriff's off-season economy

The transition from summer to winter in Glengarriff, a village in west Cork, is marked by a distinct slowdown in foot traffic, yet local business owners report a 50 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year. This rise in trade coincides with a growing number of American visitors scouting for property, a trend store managers attribute to climate change and political shifts in the United States.

Mark Funston, who co-owns Gigi’s pizza with his wife, stated that the business saw a 50 percent increase in trade this year. Funston, a former food business owner in Castletownbere who has lived in Ireland for decades, cited a shortage of available chefs and accommodation as the primary obstacles to hiring. He switched to pizza because it allows for easier staff training than other culinary roles.

Sean Hussey, the store manager at Quills Woollen Market, noted a change in visitor behavior during the off-season. He observed that many people are searching for property this time of year rather than just sightseeing. Hussey, who has worked in the Glengarriff store since the 2020 lockdowns, said he met an English couple attempting to leave London. He described the current climate as ideal, a sentiment reinforced by the heatwaves experienced in Germany, France, and England earlier this summer.

Hussey specifically mentioned seeing Americans looking at property during the previous winter. He noted that some referred to these visitors as 'Trumpugees,' a term he heard used to describe people trying to get away from the United States. The store manager emphasized that the village is being positioned as a destination for those seeking milder weather.

Claire MacCarthy, who runs the Weavers of Ireland store and the adjacent Glengarriff Park Hotel, said the winter period is necessary for stocktaking and exploring new product lines. She explained that having constant business year-round would allow for more secure, long-term employment, preventing the need to restart operations annually. MacCarthy, whose mother helped expand the business, keeps the accommodation open all year to maintain a presence in the village. She instructed staff to park cars in the front during winter so visitors could see that people are still active in the area.

Jason Moriarty, who took over Moriarty’s cafe this year after working as a London Underground driver for 25 years, said activity in the village dropped drastically at the end of September. He reduced his opening days to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to manage costs. Moriarty called the current period 'winter survival mode' but expressed a preference to keep the lights on so the village does not appear empty. He plans to make a final decision on his operating schedule in November.

On Garnish Island, accessible by the Harbour Queen II ferry, the island foreman Glyn Sherratt reported that July and August were very busy, with visitors he described as 'heat refugees' from France, Spain, and Italy. Sherratt noted that these visitors were impressed by the green landscape and lack of extreme heat. The island, owned by the State and managed by the Office of Public Works, is using the winter for upgrades and repairs, including a cafe refurbishment.

Lily Precaj, who is running the island’s Tea Rooms for the first time this year, said the drop in visitor numbers after summer was a significant adjustment. She recalled being told by the previous operator that she would often sell only one coffee per day. Precaj described the change as total but acknowledged that the island’s popularity is weather-dependent. The ferry operator Brendan O’Sullivan added that while the American market was down for the ferry service, the French and Spanish markets saw an increase, partly due to new ferry connections between Ireland and France.

Local councillor Danny Collins, an Independent Ireland representative, previously raised concerns at a local authority meeting about the number of people in council emergency accommodation in the village. He claimed that many residents were being sent down from Cork city and cited alleged antisocial behavior. However, cafe owner Jason Moriarty disagreed with this assessment, stating that the situation is not as bad as some people suggest. He added that if a resident causes a problem, they are removed from the accommodation. The village is set for further changes in 2027, with the landmark Eccles Hotel coming under new ownership.