PICTURES: Brew and Renew Tipperary Town’s bold new blend of coffee and contrast therapy

A new fixture in Tipperary Town is drawing a steady stream of intrigued locals, its doors opened just 4 weeks ago. 

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Brew and Renew calls itself a wellness café, a phrase that might sound airy until one steps inside and finds a thoughtful pairing of warm hospitality and restorative ritual.

Here the gentle bustle of a neighbourhood coffee spot sits easily beside the disciplined drama of cold immersion and sauna heat, creating a space that feels both inviting and invigorating, a place that seems intent on sending visitors back into the day with their senses sharpened and their spirits lifted.

So what is a wellness café? At Brew and Renew the idea becomes clear the moment you step past the coffee counter. A quiet, work friendly room sets the tone, a place where laptops hum and conversations drift without strain.

Beyond it the mood shifts to something more elemental. Four ice baths await, each calibrated to a different challenge, from a bracing eight degrees Celsius down to a ruthless two.

Beside them the Finnish sauna holds steady at one hundred and twenty degrees Celsius. What strikes you most, however, is how modern, slick, and professional the facilities are.

No expense has been spared. This is no backyard ice bath; it is a state-of-the-art, meticulously designed space that feels both highly professional and warmly inviting the moment you step inside.

People seek out the ice baths and sauna not for novelty but for their restorative effects, a practice often referred to as “contrast therapy”. The cold plunges stimulate circulation, boost endorphins, and sharpen alertness, while the sauna relaxes muscles, eases stress, and leaves a lingering sense of calm.

Together, these rituals create a rhythm of extremes that refreshes, energises, and helps visitors feel more resilient and alive.
Brew and Renew is the creation of three serial entrepreneurs whose paths and passions have intertwined over the years.

Starting with Darragh Kennedy from Boherlahan, 35, a civil engineering graduate from the University of Limerick and a seasoned entrepreneur.

He already manages Mynet Security, a proactive CCTV monitoring company, and Acorn Broadband, a high-speed internet provider, both operating in South Africa and the UK. On the venture, he says, “Business is in our blood. We have been in business a long time in different industries.”

Fionn MacCullagh, 36, also from Boherlahan, has known Darragh since primary school, and their lifelong friendship has formed a foundation of trust and collaboration for the project.

Gavin Butler, 33, originally from Galway and now based in Cashel, met Fionn through their shared interest in fitness. Gavin has always had a keen interest in sport, from boxing and weightlifting to powerlifting, and together with Fionn, he co-founded Tailormade Coaching, now a network of gyms across Cashel, Cahir, Clonmel, Tipperary Town, Carrick-on-Suir, Fethard, and Thurles.

Gavin’s path to entrepreneurship was shaped by necessity and determination. “When I finished school I wanted to join the army,” he recalls.

“But it was recession time in those days, and the army were not recruiting, so I found my way through sports courses into personal coaching and fell in love with that. I found out quickly I didn’t do too well working for a boss.” After early setbacks, he realised the only way forward was to run his own business.

Together, the three bring a rare combination of skills, experiences, and passions that perfectly complement the vision behind Brew and Renew.

Darragh’s global business experience and strategic thinking, combined with Gavin and Fionn’s experience running Tailormade Coaching gyms across Tipperary and their deep knowledge of health, fitness, and entrepreneurship, create a foundation for a venture that is both innovative and grounded.

In the coaching world, culture, hospitality, and fostering a sense of community are paramount, and Gavin and Fionn have carried that ethos into Brew and Renew.

They also run courses training the next generation of personal trainers, further underlining their commitment to building strong, connected communities.

Their complementary strengths allow Brew and Renew to flourish as a space where hospitality meets wellness, offering Tipperary Town a truly distinctive experience that is as professional and meticulously designed as it is welcoming and invigorating.

Darragh explains the inspiration behind Brew and Renew: “Fionn and Gavin had a connection in the UK with a similar facility and invited us over to experience it.

We loved the concept and, looking around Ireland, realised this idea was very different from what is currently available.” Gavin added: “We have always set up businesses we are passionate about.

The gyms make us feel great, and the same goes for contrast therapy. Ice baths sound rough at first, but combined with the sauna, you feel completely invigorated, a rush of endorphins, and enjoy real recovery benefits for both the body and mind.”

Darragh continues: “Brew and Renew is a social outlet, where you can meet friends and experience contrast therapy. Most facilities in the health and wellness industry are geared towards athletes, but we cater to the average person. Years ago, people socialised in pubs; now they want connection without the hangover.”

Darragh added: “We have plans to expand Brew and Renew. We’ve signed a new lease in Clonmel, beside the new Lidl. The upstairs unit will operate as a gym, and we’ve taken the downstairs unit for Brew and Renew.

We aim to complete the fit-out by the end of the first quarter and open by the end of the second. Our goal is simple: get people in the door. Once they try it and experience that feel-good factor, they’ll want to return.”

Gavin underscores the role of community: “Community is really at the heart of Brew and Renew, and that’s what brings people back. It’s the same with any business I’ve been involved with.”Culture is central to everything the founders do, and this is reflected in the way they build their team. Rather than hiring solely on resumes, they select staff based on relationships and shared values.

Miguel, the manager, Sinead, and Jack were chosen not only for their skills but for how well they fit into the welcoming, community-focused atmosphere of the café.

This careful attention to culture ensures every visitor feels genuinely looked after, contributing to the warm, inviting environment that has quickly become a hallmark of Brew and Renew.

The entrepreneurial spirit of the founders is unmistakable. Darragh, Fionn, and Gavin bring together a rare mix of vision, experience, and boldness, tackling every aspect of the business with ambition and ingenuity.

They are serial entrepreneurs who see opportunity where others see risk, approaching challenges with the same energy and creativity that has driven their success across their varied business ventures.

While Brew and Renew’s presence in Tipperary Town supports the local economy, its true significance lies in how the founders have translated their experience, passion, and collaborative spirit into a business that is professional, innovative, and warmly welcoming.

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