REVEALED: Brand new restaurant opens in Tipperary sparking a culinary stir

Cashel has a new culinary offering. Samadi Dedigmuwa, together with her husband Shavin, has opened Sam’s Table at 15 Ladyswell Street. 

The restaurant, which opened on the March 19th, aims to provide a bistro-style dining experience that combines home-cooked comfort with international influences.

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Samadai, originally from Sri Lanka, credits her interest in food to her upbringing. Both of her parents were professional chefs, a background that shaped her understanding of cuisine from an early age.

She studied Hotel Management at Shannon College and has worked in a variety of Irish establishments, including working as the Had Chef in Kilcoran Lodge and the Market Place Restaurant in Mitchelstown. She also worked as a pastry chef in the Cashel Palace Banqueting Kitchen.

Her family moved to Ireland in 2007 after her father secured a position as a Chef at the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown.  initially considered opening her own business in West Cork but ultimately chose Cashel because of its proximity to her home and its tourist traffic.

“The name of the business is Sam’s Table. The cuisine is basically what I would put on a table if you came to my house,” she explained.

Samadi credits her father for inspiring her: “My dad was the person who gave me the idea to open a place – I was originally going to open my business in West Cork but then I found this place which is only a 30 minute drive from my house. So I decided to go with Cashel instead of West Cork.”

She also draws on her father’s extensive experience in the hospitality industry, noting: “My dad worked in China, Sri Lanka and in the Middle East in 5 star hotels. So he has a very good knowledge of food and I have learned a lot from him and I have a lot of support from my parents as well.”

The menu reflects a mixture of influences. Traditional Irish dishes sit alongside Mexican and Sri Lankan options, and there are plans to introduce Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Indian dishes in the future.

Location has played a central role in the decision to open in Cashel. The restaurant is situated near the Rock of Cashel, attracting both locals and tourists.

Samadai notes that tourists often seek traditional Irish meals such as bacon and cabbage or lamb stew. Early indications suggest that the restaurant is benefitting from this flow of visitors.

Samadi described the venture as both a personal and professional milestone, working alongside her husband and drawing on his business experience in Sri Lanka to establish the restaurant.

“Business has been good. I think people want to see how the new place is, so hopefully it keeps going. I just have to keep my standards high,” she said.

Sam’s Table combines a personal vision with an understanding of its location and clientele. In a town known for its historic attraction, the restaurant represents a modern addition to Cashel’s hospitality sector, offering both familiarity and variety to visitors and residents alike.

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