Leinster Mills history
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Leinster Mills is a historic landmark in Naas, Co. Kildare which dates from 1790. It was a prominent grain flour mill for centuries in the Kildare and surrounding region. We admire the elegance of the historical and functional design that was created over the centuries, along with the natural beauty of the location. This is our base for coffee roasting !
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The mill was established by local landlord John Montgomery of "The Knocks" at Oldtown (beside Tandys Bridge). We understand he was a Scottish miller, and his house is also a protected structure that dates possibly from around 1760 (TBU).
The Naas branch of the grand canal (known as the Corbally line) was built by the Kildare Canal Company, It opened in 1788, and the company was owned by local landowners. It was not a commercial success, and ended up going into receivership and into the banks control after about 8 years. It was then taken over by the Grand Canal company.
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The mill passed to the Nolan family for a number of years (local gentry) and afterwards it was under the stewardship of the Hibernian Bank. In 1879 it became intricately linked to the Odlums legacy through the lease by William Odlum and Henry Pemberton. In 1903 it became fully owned by the Odlum family, after the death of Pemberton.
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The transformation from a grain flour processing to a coffee marks a departure from tradition, embracing the ever-growing demand for specialty coffee. The milling equipment stopped in 1989 after 199 years of production. It had reached it end of life, with the loss of the last contracts, which were for making course oats for biscuits and brown bread. We love the biological similarities between grain flour and coffee seeds, and how we are still continuing the natural seed processing tradition.
Leinster Mills invites patrons to savour their brew amidst a picturesque setting. The ambience, once a delight for canal side strollers, now carries the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans, creating a space where history, natural beauty and contemporary coffee culture meet.
