Legendary pies given a new lease of life
Elsie’s fish and chip shop, which has opened at Ballyvolane Cross on the city’s northside, has begun serving the legendary Molly Hayden’s potato pies.
The pies are made with a recipe passed down from Molly Hayden, who ran a takeaway on Lower Blarney St at a time when a bag of chips cost just 12 pence.
Elsie’s, run by Brian O’Connell, from Riverview, in Cork, was built on the grounds of the home of Elsie Phelan, who ran the Fox and Hounds pub with her husband, Mick Phelan.
“I started this business when the downturn in the economy meant that my engineering business was threatened,” Mr O’Connell said. “Rather than move or work abroad I decided to open Elsie’s.
“We are hoping that this new business will be a very important part of the local community here, and when we were given the recipe for Molly Hayden’s pies we thought that they were a fitting addition to our menu.
“Those that remember the original pies love coming in here for a taste of the past, and we want to share this past with a new generation of people growing up around Ballyvolane.”
The chipper has created six jobs, with more on the way when a delivery service is launched.
