COMING NOVEMBER 2026 | BRIDGEFOOT STREET PARK, DUBLIN 8
A new community cafe with a purpose.
The Liberator Cafe by Mendicity will open in November 2026 in Bridgefoot Street Park, directly across from the main food service doors of Mendicity Institution. As an extension of Mendicity’s social enterprise, the cafe will create new opportunities for training, employment and progression for people experiencing homelessness, addiction and social isolation.
More than just a cafe, The Liberator will be a welcoming space where people can connect, build skills and take steps towards a brighter future, while contributing positively to the local community.
Coffee with a purpose
The Liberator Cafe will extend Mendicity’s social enterprise into the heart of the community, bringing people together through good coffee, meaningful employment and shared opportunity.
Our aim is to create pathways for people who face barriers to employment, supporting them to develop practical skills, gain valuable experience and build confidence in a supportive working environment. Through hands-on experience and tailored training, participants will have opportunities to progress towards sustainable employment and greater independence.
By creating a welcoming community space, The Liberator Cafe will also strengthen connections between Mendicity, local residents, businesses and visitors, demonstrating the positive contribution that social enterprise can make to our community.
Rooted in history. Building a better future.
The Liberator Cafe takes its name and inspiration from Daniel O’Connell, the celebrated Irish political leader known as The Liberator, whose legacy is closely connected to Mendicity’s own history.
Daniel O’Connell was a member of the managing committee of the Mendicity Institution from 1820 to 1822. He became President of the Institution in 1842 and remained associated with it until his death in 1847.
His connection to Mendicity is an important part of our heritage. Today, The Liberator Cafe carries that legacy forward by creating opportunities for inclusion, dignity and participation, bringing people together and supporting those who experience disadvantage to build a better future.
“I am the friend of liberty in every clime, class and color. My sympathy with distress is not confined within the narrow bounds of my own green island. No—it extends itself to every corner of the earth.”
— Daniel O’Connell, The Liberator
His commitment to liberty, dignity and compassion remains at the heart of Mendicity’s mission. The Liberator Cafe carries this legacy forward, creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, addiction and social isolation to develop skills, access employment and build a more independent future.
As a welcoming space in Bridgefoot Street Park, the cafe will bring this heritage into the present, connecting people and strengthening our community through opportunity, inclusion and shared purpose.
Part of Mendicity Social Enterprise
The Liberator Cafe is part of Mendicity Social Enterprise, a not-for-profit enterprise established to create training and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and other barriers to participation in society.
All funds generated through Mendicity Social Enterprise are reinvested in the social enterprise itself and in Mendicity’s core services for people experiencing homelessness.
Our approach is built around progression, providing practical experience and skills that can support people to move towards employment, independence and greater participation in their communities.
Training, skills and progression
Through The Liberator Cafe, participants will have opportunities to gain practical experience in a cafe environment, develop transferable workplace skills and access relevant training to support their professional development.
Barista training – developing coffee-making skills and customer service experience.
HACCP food safety training – learning safe food handling and essential food hygiene practices.
Manual handling training – developing safe working practices in the workplace.
Additional relevant training – tailored to the requirements of the role and each participant’s professional development and progression goals.
By combining practical experience with appropriate training and support, we aim to help participants build confidence, strengthen their CVs and progress towards further employment opportunities.
A cafe that gives back
Every coffee served at The Liberator Cafe will contribute to a wider social purpose: creating opportunities, strengthening community connections and supporting the work of Mendicity.
We look forward to welcoming the local community, neighbours and visitors when The Liberator Cafe by Mendicity opens in Bridgefoot Street Park in November 2026.
The Liberator Cafe by Mendicity — a place for community, opportunity and a fresh start.
Liberator Cafe is a registered food business with the HSE.