Kasha Connolly is co-director of the innovative Hazel Mountain Chocolate factory, visitor centre and cafe in the spectacular Oughtmama mountain area of the Burren, and she’s fortunate to live in a green-roofed contemporary home minutes away from her work
Co-director of Hazel Mountain Chocolate, Kasha Connolly outside her home in the Burren, Co Clare. The green roof is an outstanding feature. Photo: Tony Gavin
One of the nicest elements of travelling around Ireland these days, even in the remotest of areas, is the multitude of fabulous cafes where a visitor to the area can be sure of a nice ambiance, a great cup of coffee and delicious cakes. Burren Cafe at Hazel Mountain Chocolate in Co Clare is one such place, however, there’s a lot more than is usual on offer at this superb destination.
As well as the cafe, which is set in the 1950s cottage of co-owner John Connolly’s grandparents, there’s a chocolate factory, which produces superb award-winning chocolate; it’s one of only a handful of bean-to-bar creators in the Republic of Ireland using sustainably grown cocoa beans – they come from small producers, mainly from Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba.