Solstice celebrations begin in Headford this Saturday at noon. Various artists are performing around the town. Come be entertained and enjoy the longest day of the year.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
The Language of
Flowers was a sort of Victorian era primer that contained the symbolism of various
flowers as reported throughout history in poetry, ancient mythology and even
medicine. The book became quite popular and inspired a whole science known as
floriography.
According to The Language
of Flowers, the Sunflower is the symbol of pride. It’s appropriate, then,
that the Headford café that’s been open longer than any other is still going
strong under the proud yellow symbol for which it is named.
When Fiona Burke and Alex Taylor opened the Sunflower Café back
in 2005, there was no other café in Headford. As Fiona tells it, she and Alex,
who trained as a chef in South Africa, first discussed their business idea ‘over
a glass of wine.’ But what really made the concept for the Sunflower blossom in
Fiona’s head was the fact that her mom was too embarrassed to be seen having
lunch in a pub.
‘We were so nervous,’ Fiona says of opening the café. ‘Everybody
said it wouldn’t work.’ But then, most everyone has experienced that kind of
reaction to a new idea.
‘Ah, sure, it’ll never
work.’ ‘You’ll be killing yourself for nothing.’ ‘Why would you want to do
something like that?’ People who are
too afraid to try things themselves frequently want to dishearten the
courageous. That’s where Fiona and Alex can offer inspiration.
 |
| Fiona Burke, Proprietor |
‘It was a big gamble. We had to borrow money,’ Fiona says. ‘But
we knew we’d kick ourselves if someone else opened a café and we didn’t. We’d
say, “That was our idea!”’
So they took the plunge and now, nine years later, the
Sunflower Café is still going strong. That’s a pretty amazing accomplishment,
especially when you consider that during those nine years, our domestic economy
shifted into reverse. According to a publication with the unfortunate name of InsolvencyJournal.ie, five companies go
out of business each day.
Fiona’s success story is a local one. She grew up in Headford
and graduated from Presentation, then later moved to Tuam and worked in an
accounts office. Now, she says, she works a lot harder now—it seems like 24/7
sometimes—but she wouldn’t give it up. ‘Even when I’m in bed at night,
sometimes I’m thinking, did I order enough food for tomorrow?’ She loves the
fact that some of her customers call the Sunflower, ‘the Rover’s Return without
the alcohol.’ The café has that neighbourhood feel, with everyone chatting,
sometimes across tables. Frequently, elderly people will come in alone and end
up meeting other folks there. ‘Someone will always chat with them,’ Fiona says.
Working long hours and catering on weekends means that Fiona
doesn’t socialise much, ‘but I do socialise here,’ she says about the café. ‘I
enjoy the buzz.’ Fiona praises her ‘brilliant staff’ and says they are part of
the reason the place has such loyal customers. But, if there’s anything Fiona would change, it’s the fact that
some people just can't seem to smile. ‘How can you say hello without smiling?’ she
asks. ‘There’s always somebody worse off than you.’
If there's anything to be proud of, it's the loyalty she's engendered in the community. Fiona beams when she says, ‘We’re doing First Communion cakes now for the same kids we
did Christening cakes for.'
