5 MINUTES WITH DOMINIC MCDERMOTT

Dominic McDermott lives near Malin Head. He moved here 6 months ago from England with his wife Andrea Carr and their two children. The couple were married in Lagg back in 2000 and always knew they would eventually live in Ireland as they have a lot of connections here. Andrea, (who used to be a restaurant manager) and Dominic have set up a new business called Café Banba selling fresh coffee, hot chocolate and snacks from a three-wheeled Piaggio van. The van is Italian and has a tiny 200cc engine, which is just enough to get it up the hill to Banba’s crown to serve delicious drinks to the tourists who head to the landmark every day. Because the business is mobile, Dominic has also been able to cater for the large film crew on location in the area making the film A Shine of Rainbows.


What music do you like?
I like anything with a 70’s influence and used to run a disco that specialised in that era. I also enjoyed promoting a couple of bands. Melting Moments were an easy listening band and Sisters of Satisfaction who were a group of men dressed up as nuns…

What would you never throw away?
Photographs. I have taken thousands of them over the years and wouldn’t like to lose any of them. I have most of them backed up by at least 5 different methods, just to be sure.

What book are you reading?
Most of my reading at the moment is connected with the business. I am interested in the art of making coffee though and love the subculture that coffee making has - it even has its own name – A Barista, someone who is a cappuccino coffee expert.

What was your favourite childhood game?
I was in the scouts when I was younger and enjoyed a game called Bulldog. It was a very physical game, requiring a lot of running and throwing people to the floor. I am not sure if it is still allowed now though for health and safety reasons.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I am very methodical when it comes to the paper. It’s usually front to back I do have in interest in the GAA. My plumber Danny Lafferty plays for Malin town so I would look at the sports pages if they were playing to see how they got on.

What is your idea of a good night out?
Going to Farrens, the most northerly bar. I was coming to Malin for 14 years before we moved here and the first time I walked in the bar, everyone knew me. You can’t get better than that!

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
A friend of mine took me around the Mars confectionary factory to relax before I went for an interview with Cable and Wireless for a job. The buildings were very close to one another. You had to wear a hair net to go around the chocolate factory and it wasn’t until I finished the interview with the panel of executives that I realised I had a red band across my forehead where the tight elastic had been on the hairnet. I looked like I had a lobotomy. I got the job though…

Have you a favourite TV programme?
I watch Lost, I blame my wife, she put me on to it!

How do you relax?
I used to take flying lessons, which included paragliders and small aircraft. I found that very relaxing.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be an astronaut as I was obsessed with space.

Where would you like to go for your holidays?
My ideal holiday is Tuscany and went there a lot when I was younger. There are 25 of us going over for my mum’s 60th birthday.

Your idea of heaven?
It would have to be Malin. We moved here from Worthing on the south coast of England and the only thing I miss are local curry houses. Its 40-mile round trip to get a takeaway!

Your idea of hell?
Commuting to work. I had to commute to London from Worthing 3-4 times a week, which could put nearly three hours onto your working day.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Kylie - both to sing and talk to. I played a lot of her music in the discos. Barry White and Sister Sledge could come along too.

Favourite animal?
Our fluffy ginger cat Bosley, named after a character from the Charlie’s Angels series.

Biggest thrill?
People coming over from England to visit the beautiful part of the world we live in.

The world’s most irritating invention?
Although I need it, I would say it is the mobile phone.

What is your idea of a good night in?
A night in with my family, a DVD and a can of Guinness.

Biggest disappointment?
Not moving here sooner… We have been here 6 months and have enjoyed every second. I am just pleased we did it now though..

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
The 1970’s. I wasn’t quite old enough to experience the big discos.

World’s most useful invention?
The espresso machine and coffee grinder. Coffee loses its taste quickly when it has been ground so it needs to be made into a drink straight away.




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