Who we are

Where 300 years of history meet modern cooking.

Originally built in the 1700s as a steward's house for the Keogh Estate, this building has lived many lives — as a forge, a local shop, and even a post office. A careful restoration preserved its original flagstone floors and sash windows, so the soul of the past remains.

Reopened in 2025 by Phil and Kay, The Forge is once again a heartbeat of the community. In the kitchen, Chef Phil crafts innovative menus using the finest local ingredients and daily bakes. Front of house, Kay makes sure every guest feels like an old friend.

Whether you're here for a slow brunch or a cosy dinner, you're part of our story now.

Phil and Kay, owners of The Forge Restaurant & Bakehouse, outside the stone building

Winter

Opening hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Breakfast 9am to 12pm
Wednesday: Breakfast 9am to 12pm
Thursday: Breakfast 9am to 11.30amLunch 12.30pm to 3.00pm
Friday: Breakfast 9am to 11.30amLunch 12.30pm to 3.00pm
Saturday: Breakfast 9am to 11.30amLunch 12.30pm to 4.00pm
Sunday: Breakfast 9am to 11.30amLunch 12.30pm to 4.00pm

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From the family album

The Forge through the years

A few photographs from the albums — the cottage, the forge, the shop and post office days, and the restaurant we know today.

A man outside a thatched cottage, thought to be the cottage or blacksmith's house that became The Forge — Thought to be the cottage or blacksmith’s house that became The Forge at Kilbride Cross. The man and date are unknown.
Carlow local-history collection · Sean Cogan

The building now known as The Forge, in a photograph labelled Pre 1970 by the Carlow local-history collection — The building now known as The Forge, Kilbride Cross — labelled ‘Pre 1970’ in the Carlow local-history collection.
Carlow local-history collection

An undated newspaper clipping showing the Murphy family and neighbours gathered at the forge in Kilbride — A gathering at the forge, Kilbride, during the Murphy family’s grocery shop and post-office years. Undated newspaper clipping.
Caption from the original clipping
Names from the newspaper caption
Back: Bill Murphy, Lizzie Murphy and Paddy Murphy.
Third row: Paddy Gaynor, Paddy Kehoe, Jack Kelly, Jack Malone, George Wilson and Martin Gray.
Second row: Pat Kelly, Kevin Curry and Nick Curry.
Front: Jim Gray, Bill Hendrick, Tom Curry and Mick Kehoe.
The clipping says “about 80 years ago”, but its publication date is unknown.

The Forge building derelict and overgrown behind a garden gate in 1996 — The Forge before restoration, behind an overgrown entrance and gate. Photographed in 1996.
From the family album

Eugene O’Neill outside what is now The Forge in the early 1980s, as identified by the Carlow local-history collection — Eugene O’Neill outside what is now The Forge, Kilbride Cross, in the early 1980s, as identified by the Carlow local-history collection.
Carlow local-history collection · Sean Cogan

The crowd at the unveiling of the 1916 centenary stone at Kilbride Cross, by Amon Brennon — The unveiling of the 1916 centenary stone at Kilbride Cross, by Amon Brennon.
From the family album