Giving the story the space it deserved

Some episodes fly along on bright banter and the clatter of cups. This one needed something different: time, gentleness, and room to breathe.

In this new episode, we meet Aidan and Kim Carroll, the couple behind the coffee trailer ‘Bean There Ate That’, set in Donaghmoyne just outside Carrickmacross. Their set-up is wonderfully simple – a local trailer bringing proper coffee to a place that didn’t really have a “coffee stop” before – but the heart of the episode is the decision to let Kim’s story be told fully, without rushing it.

What unfolds is the kind of story that changes how you hear everything afterwards: the long stretch of uncertainty, the weight of difficult conversations, the strange limbo of waiting, and then the hard grace of a transplant – and the slow, stubborn return to ordinary life. Listening back, you can feel the shift: this isn’t “content”, it’s a life being rebuilt. And out of that came a new chapter – not just a business, but a small local place where people can pause, chat, and be seen.

There’s plenty of warmth: the quiet joy of meeting neighbours properly for the first time, the laughter about secret menu orders, the small daily wins that feel huge when you’ve come through something serious. And underneath it all is a theme I loved: coffee as community-making — not a grand idea, just the steady miracle of conversation.

With the assistance of Greenbean Coffee Roasters, and settling on their Supremo blend, these two unlikely coffee entrepreneurs have developed a flavour that goes well with milk drinks (lattes, flat whites and cappuccinos), or on its own in americanos, long blacks, or espressos.

The Courage to Begin
Woven through the episode is a gentle but insistent invitation to seize the moment. After everything they had lived through, fear no longer had the same authority it once did. Aidan reflects on how the things that once felt risky suddenly seemed small, especially when set beside real loss and real fragility. Around them, others were making their own quiet leaps: Kim’s father finally allowing himself to retire after a lifetime of work, and her brother taking the courageous step of opening The GRÁ in Dublin.

Another important strand in the story is collaboration. As the idea of the coffee trailer began to feel real, Aidan’s encounter with Street School & Shawney McCleary, who offered both practical help and reassurance, is a reminder that ideas rarely grow in isolation — they need shared experience, encouragement, and people willing to say, yes, this can work

Together, these moments speak of a recognition that life doesn’t wait for certainty, and that sometimes the only way forward is to let go, trust a little more, and begin.

A gentle nudge: organ donation matters

Aidan and Kim are also using their platform to encourage organ donation – because their family’s “after” only exists because another family said yes, in the middle of their own grief.

If you do one thing after listening, let it be this: have the conversation with your loved ones and make your wishes clear. Practical starting points (Ireland):

• HSE — organ donation information + opt-out register details (helps you understand how it works, and how to record a decision either way).  
• Irish Kidney Association — get an organ donor card / digital donor card (a simple way to make your wishes known and share them with family).  
• OrganDonation.ie — donor card request info and guidance.  
• A clear, plain-English explainer via Citizens Information.  

(And genuinely: even if you do nothing else, talking to your next-of-kin is the key step.)

Find them, follow them, visit them

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok
• Opening hours (as shared on the episode):
  Thu & Fri: 8:00am–3:30pm
  Sat: 10:00am–4:00pm
  (They’ll post updates if weather or anything else forces changes.)

And a lovely boost for them early on: they’ve already been getting recognition beyond the village — including willing the Ulster Takeaway Coffee award for 2026. 

Closing note

This episode is a reminder that behind so many counters there’s a backstory you’d never guess — and that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is tell the truth slowly. Coffee helps. Community helps more. And organ donation? That can change everything.

The Podcast continues to grow

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed meetingg Aidan ^ Kim, and hearing their story. And if you’re as excited about coffee as we are, don’t forget to subscribe to beansandmore.coffee podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. You never know which local gem will be featured next.

Beansandmore.coffee is a heartfelt and engaging podcast that delves into the stories and people behind local coffee shops, celebrating the community and the art of coffee making. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the world of coffee and beyond.

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Until next time, keep brewing and connecting!