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The Silk Road Café at Dublin Castle will close this week, ending more than 25 years of trade in one of the capital’s most visible hospitality spots. Owner Abraham Phelan, 73, said a confidential settlement with the landlord brings to a close a legal dispute tied to Ireland’s upcoming EU role.
A long-running presence at Dublin Castle
The café has served state banquets and welcomed visiting dignitaries for decades, becoming a familiar backdrop when presidents, royalty and foreign delegations passed through the castle. Phelan described the decision to close as “the end of an era.”
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From injunction to settlement
Phelan had been told the café would need to shut for the duration of Ireland’s six-month EU presidency. In June he secured an injunction restraining the landlord, the Chester Beatty Library, from enforcing the closure on security grounds.
Those legal proceedings gave way to mediation, and both sides reached a confidential settlement earlier this week. Under that agreement the Silk Road Café will cease trading on Friday.
Staff, redundancy and next steps
Leaving his team has been the hardest part for Phelan. He said letting staff go is “the saddest part,” calling them family and noting some have already found other work while others received redundancy.
Six employees will remain involved with Phelan’s other ventures. They are expected to continue working at his cookery school and catering business after the café closes.
Phelan’s reaction
At 73, Phelan said he had hoped to keep the café open for a couple more years before retiring at about 75. But he added: “For my sake, for peace of mind, for my age, it’s time to actually step back.”
He told the Irish Times the dispute felt particularly difficult because it involved people he respects. Still, he said he was proud he challenged what he saw as unfair treatment rather than accepting it.
What this means
The settlement brings to a close a public-facing chapter for a business that has been intertwined with state hospitality at Dublin Castle. Beyond the closure this week, the owner plans to focus on his remaining culinary enterprises while stepping away from daily operations.
