One of Kerry’s iconic tourist stopping points on the Ring of Kerry for the last 50 years, Moriarty’s at the Gap of Dunloe, are nearing completion of an exciting and innovative development project. The project will introduce a new restaurant called “Heather” and a multi-level landscaped outdoor area, taking advantage of the breath taking vistas of the McGillicuddy Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountain range. 

The development, which is the first in many years in the area will cost in the region of €650,000. It involves the development of 5 acres of land, transforming the outdoor area into a facility where visitors to the area as well as locals can enjoy the breathtaking scenery as well as experience and learn about the local geology, history, flora, fauna, lakes and mountains right on the foothills of the McGillicuddy Reeks.

The new garden was designed by Tim Austen, who in the past few years has become one of Ireland’s best known garden designers with three gold medal winning gardens at ‘Bloom in the Park’. The garden will include extensive polytunnels which will produce much of the produce required for the restaurant.  

Heather café, which will create 10 new jobs will be an 80 seater restaurant of 100 sq metres, will open onto the new landscaped area.  The restaurant’s unique interior design concept blends beautifully with the exterior landscape and reflects the standards of the restaurant’s cuisine: freshness, originality and authenticity.  The café in respect to its imposing surroundings will produce home grown vegetables and herbs from their own gardens on the mountain foothills and will have a very strict ethos of supporting local. The majority of produce will take advantage of the wealth of local artisan food producers, organic farmers and wild Atlantic seafood that the South West of Ireland has to offer. 

Behind this ambitious project are husband and wife team, Denis and Ailish Moriarty.  It was Denis’ father, the late Michael and his mother Margaret Moriarty who opened the business which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Denis stated “Our family have been part of the Ring of Kerry landscape for generations.  Since my father and mother first opened the doors to visitors Moriarty’s has become such a well known and loved place and we are really looking forward to this next chapter in our history, welcoming even more people to this special place.” 

Ailish added “What we are now introducing is a facility not just for tourists, but we hope people who live in the area will have another excuse to come and experience the vistas, which are breathtaking all year round, in the extensive outdoor facilities and also in Heather cafe.  We are so lucky to be living in such a beautiful part of the country that sometimes as locals we are guilty of taking for granted what is on our doorstep.  We hope that by providing this facility, locals as well as visitors will come and enjoy the location as well as the locally produced food. Whatever the weather, Moriarty’s will become a relaxing meeting place for locals and day trippers enjoying the Ring of Kerry as well as travelers from the four corners of the world.”

 The new development should be completed in March to prepare for the busy 2014 season and will be open 7 days a week.  For more information on the new development visit www.moriartys.ie