Social media and community support: why coffee containers are thriving in Carlow
Tiffany O’Neill owner of the ‘Coffee Pot’ coffee cart in the Strawhall Industrial Estate in Carlow. Pic: © Michael O'Rourke Photography 2026
Drive-Thru Brew, Graiguecullen The two-storey grey and orange container on the Portlaoise Road, Graiguecullen opened in November 2025. Owner Aisling Nolan said she opened the spot because “Graiguecullen has a fantastic sense of community and I felt there was an opportunity to provide a high-quality coffee service that was convenient for people on the go.”
“Convenience is definitely a big factor behind the business’ success,” said Aisling. “People’s lives are busier than ever and a drive-through allows them to grab a quality coffee without disrupting their day. It’s about combining convenience with a friendly, community-focused atmosphere.” She mentioned challenges with navigating planning and regulatory requirements, managing rising costs and ensuring everything was ready for opening day, but feedback from customers has made it all worthwhile.
Indeed, the support of the community has been “incredible,” said Aisling. “I’d like to think it’s become more than just somewhere to buy a coffee. It’s a meeting point, a familiar stop in people’s daily routines and a local business that supports the community.”
The Coffee Pot Strawhall, Carlow Tiffany Kelly (25) set up The Coffee Pot on 11 July 2024 after her dad, Greg who owns properties in Strawhill, broached the idea.
“He kind of left the idea sitting there for a couple weeks and then, I kind of took the idea and ran with it.” Tiffany and her father learned as they went along.
“I didn't know anything about coffee before this and he didn't either,” she said. “I was still in college and then I decided I'd leave college to just do this because this takes up all of my time. This is my little baby.” Her dad has stepped back from the business, but her sister is the company secretary, making it a family business.
Having her own business is the dream: “I said I'd rather do something that I love and be working for myself than working for someone else and then chopping and changing jobs.
“We were really lucky. With the first year, obviously, there was a lot of expenses going out. Every month there was kind of something else we had to pay for. And then trying to train staff, that takes up a lot of time. So, I would say probably a year in it started turning a profit. I don't think it would have taken off as well as it did if we hadn't been doing social media.”
The Coffee Pot now has over 5,000 followers on Instagram and tens of thousands of views on TikTok. The employees, some of whom are Tiffany’s relatives and friends, make hilarious videos about working in the container and showing off new additions to the menu.
Tiffany said: “We find on our stories that once we post something new, you'll see in ten or 15 minutes someone lands down saying ‘I saw your story, can I get it?’”
