Iconic Kildare business is celebrating 50 years serving the community

The Silken Thomas in Kildare town, with its famous “Eat, Drink, Stay” slogan, is celebrating five decades of serving customers.
Joe and Marie Flanagan started out in the early 1970s with a small pub and a cinema.
Now the hospitality complex on Market Square now comprises bars, restaurants and high standard accommodation.
The multi-award winning business has won Best Casual Dining Award for Leinster in the Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards 2023 and Ireland’s Great Roast accolade in 2021.
Owner of The Silken Thomas, Brian Flanagan said that the hospitality industry has evolved so much over the past 30 to 40 years and that it is a constant challenge to keep up with consumer tastes and with trends in the industry.
The Flanagan family ran the former Leinster Lodge, which became the Lord Edward Accommodation facility, and it became very successful which encouraged the family to invest further into hotel style accommodation,
Brian said the opening of Kildare Village in 2007 was key in attracting tens of thousands of shoppers to the area and the demand for high level accommodation.
This led to the Flanagan family developing the nearby Post Master's House and Virginia Lodge for guest accommodation.
Since then, the former Tigerlilly niteclub has been redeveloped into a multi-purpose venue - Studio One - which is in big demand as a location for family gatherings and business conferences.
Brian said: “My parents always had a progressive outlook. It all started as a typical bar and a cinema but it has been developed into so much more.
“The drinking, dining and accommodation aspects of the business all complement each other and can form a valuable overall package for the customer.
“Guests that stay with us in most cases avail of our food and beverage offering also.”
He added: “We are basically a small hotel now and have everything included except for a gym and swimming pool.”
Brian singled out staff in the Silken Thomas group for special praise, particularly loyal employees who have been with the company over 20 years.
He explained: “Staff are key to any business and are essential to us and have been very important to the success.
“Staff develop a rapport with customers and create a friendly atmosphere which keeps customers coming back again and again.
“We could be the Taj Mahal, but if we don't have staff that don't know how to treat customers well, it will be for nothing.”
Brian also paid tribute to his parents, Joe and Marie, and said he was in awe of how they built up the business.
He explained: “The foundations were very good.
“There was a lot of investment and a lot of risk at times but it all paid off.
“I’m in awe of what my parents achieved.
“There is a great foundation there for continuing to evolve the business and move forward for the next 50 years!”