“God bless that bank manager” my mother would say. She seems to recall his name was Mister Hannon. My father and mother had strolled down to the Bank of Ireland, the clock branch at the top of the square, and had walked in and asked to see the manager. Funny really when you think of it, no appointment, no business plan no clue or experience, just walked in and asked to talk to the manager. And fair play to mister Hannon; he brought them into a room where they asked for a loan of £8,000 in order to buy a shop. And good old mister Hannon listened and nodded and in no time had agreed to give them the full amount.
Larry and Nora Hynes lived at 39 Forster Street with their seven, soon-to-be eight children. The year was 1972. Our next-door neighbour, Helen Spelman owned the shop next door. Helen had inherited it from her aunt Mamo McDonagh. And now Helen was looking to sell it. She kindly offered my parents the chance to buy it. Mum was keen on the idea and had shop experience from working in Egan’s at Eyre Square. Dad, however, was really not so hot on the idea.
It’s no small matter buying a shop. And, as we learnt in the 47 years since 1972, it is certainly no walk in the park running a shop either. However, a rare opportunity was offered and had to be seriously considered. My Dad was working for Noone and Cummins, the fruit distributors at that time. He decided to ask his boss for advice on this matter. Mick Noone spoke some far-seeing and wise advice when he said to my father, “If you have to beg, steal or borrow money, buy that shop”.
As far as is remembered, we took possession of Spelman’s shop at 37 Forster Street on 15th of October 1972. The evening before we opened, I recall weighing potatoes on a kitchen scales in the backyard of our house. The potatoes were bagged in 7-pound / half-stone bags ready for sale in the shop. Thinking back, potatoes were among the products that were central and important for any local shop to stock at the time. Many of the items sold were food ingredients. Things you would use to put a meal together; loose tea, loaf bread (the cob was well popular), butter, jam, bread soda, baking powder, flour and eggs. None of your noodles or pasta. No such thing as baguettes or ready-made frozen pizzas. And as for brioche, soy sauce or pesto, ah now come on, where would ya be going?
The early years of shop life were both exciting and hard work in equal and plenty measure. Dad and Mum, along with my brother Padraic and sister Aine spent many hours working and assisting in the business. Some of the family members were never involved. Strange maybe, but that’s the way things go, probably not cut out for it as you’d say.
For a small shop, it kept us well busy. There are so many tasks involved in running a business, no matter what size. We surely got to understand the saying that “retail is detail”. Over the years the shop saw many changes in the area. In the early days, there was a Fair in the Fairgreen every Saturday. You’d wake up to the lowing of cattle and the bustle of farm and animal activity. The cattle farmers and various helpers were welcome additional customers of course. Their mucky wellingtons also added to the everyday shop work!
Sundays were busy days, especially after mass times. Recalling the early years, there were five masses each Sunday morning. At eight o’clock, nine, ten, eleven and midday. It was all hands on deck after mass time. The small shop would be crowded with Sunday morning neighbours buying their newspapers and other odds and ends to make their Sunday. Deserving children who accompanied their parents to mass would get ice cream or a small treat. This might be the only time some people in the neighbourhood would meet up and have a chat, and there was always an air of bubbly happiness and contentment.
We all fondly remember the ladies and the nuns from the Magdalen home. We called the ladies Maggies, which was definitely a term of endearment. In early times in the shop we rarely saw them appear. Over time, they were permitted to go outside and venture tentatively to the local shop and sometimes into town. They were like assorted angels when they were let out. Each one was a different character, each with their own warmth and love shining out from under grey skies. They would frequently request snuff (which was weighed into the world’s smallest brown paper bag) or hair nets or some small treat. Sometimes a few cigarettes were in order. At the time, cigarettes could still be sold singly and the non-tipped cigarette was well popular. Sweet Afton or Players were the most popular cigarettes, though I recall a brand called Cadet which was priced at 10p for ten. Some of the staff in the Magdalen Laundry were often into us too. They also were so kind to the ladies in the Magdalen. There was Martin and Kitty Crowley and Jim Hehir from Magdalen terrace, Geraldine was in the office. Brian Kelly was one of the drivers The most rewarding aspects of life in the shop, throughout all the years, were the people who were customers, suppliers and staff.
We fondly remember so many of the people in the neighbourhood; so many people enriched our days, far too many to mention. I remember the lovely Mrs Horan from Eyre Square who made it her business to call over. Our dear neighbour Mrs Ryan was a lovely loyal customer. She would say “all business is local” and made a point of supporting many small local businesses. John Francis King was a total hoot and a great man to have as a neighbour. Dick O Driscoll, Bridie Hehir, Tim Richardson, Nancy Lavelle, Annie Molloy and many more. We’ve also had the best of staff. In the early years, we had the lovely Ita Grey. She was such a good shop assistant and we were lucky to get her when she arrived from her previous job in Woolworths. Of course, the shop has had many different staff members over the years. It is rewarding to have young people join us to work for a number of years and to catch up with them years later in whatever career or location they ventured off to. All told, I would have to say its all been a great adventure down the years. Lots of hard work, way too many hours, but totally rewarding for all that for the people you would meet. Now then, anybody want to buy a shop.