Father Paddy Rushe: Cappuccinos and Chasubles
“You’re doing what?” – That’s the question I hear – usually with a mix of surprise and curiosity – when I mention that in my free time, I serve coffee from a little cart called An Trucail, parked at Gerard’s Church, Mary Street, Drogheda.
It might seem an odd pairing – priest and barista – but for me, it’s a passion project, a long-held dream, and a quiet tribute to those I’ve loved and lost. My brother Eoin Pól, who died two years ago at 52, was a proud Gaeilgeoir; Mary Ann, our gentle sister, died in 2017 at just 33, loved her coffee too. And our mother, Ann – gone 15 years now – I can’t remember her without a coffee in hand. After retiring from teaching, she opened a small coffee shop in our hometown, “Cuan/Cara.” It was ahead of its time, much like Keogh’s in Maynooth, where I spent many a student hour in the 90s.
An Trucail – named in Irish as a nod to Pól – grew out of another creative leap: my podcast, beansandmore.coffee, which was launched on Leap Day 2024. It was a chance to explore stories over coffee, and to stretch myself technically – recording, editing, branding – all done by myself. I’ve always had a tech streak. Back in 2012, I was dubbed the “iPad priest” and had already helped design a ‘vocations’ app in 2011.
While delivering flyers for the podcast, I stumbled upon an old horse box – unused and unloved – and something stirred. I bought it, and after a few repairs, brought it to Gerard’s Church, a venue with deep historic ties to Drogheda. From there, An Trucail began brewing.
I partnered with Greenbean Roasters in Dundalk to serve great coffee, but I made one bold move: evening hours. I’ve long believed Ireland lacks spaces for good coffee after 7.00pm. We have pubs aplenty, but not many spots where friends can chat after a walk, or someone can enjoy quiet reflection as the day winds down. An Trucail tries to offer that – a warm light in the evening, a simple antidote to stress and the noise of the world.
Coffee, after all, is about more than just taste. It’s about connection. From its earliest use, coffee brought people together – physically and intellectually. Coffee houses shaped Europe’s ideas, hosted debates, and inspired change. We’ve had the first, second, and third waves of coffee. I believe a fourth is coming – where coffee becomes deeply personal: your cup, your way, at your time.
To offer that, even in a small way, feels like a grace. An Trucail may look like a simple cart, but to me it’s a bridge between faith and community, conversation and quiet – a ‘leap’ of faith that connects beans, belief, and belonging.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s where Church is most alive.
Next time you are in Drogheda, visit An Trucail, parked at Gerard’s Church on Mary Street.
ENDS
Theway.ie would like to thank Father Paddy Rushe, owner of An Trucail for supplying this inspiring story
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