BS: another part of rural ireland dies

Subject: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Feb 15 - 08:56 PM

Another Mudcat thread saved by Punkfolkrocker

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Subject: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Good Soldier Schweik
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 12:54 PM

"Wisemans Durrus - General Store
9 December
Last few days of our closing down sale up to 50% off all wet suits, fishing equipment,steel nails ,paint, gardening equipment, wellingtons, rain and swimming gear, hiking and running gear, up to 40% off all hardware, no risk boots, shovels, xmas stock and toys. Everything must go something for everyone come check us out you won't be disappointed .You better hurry and grab a bargain closing on the 21st of December."   
this shop will close after 80 years, thanks to Enda Kenny and company, increased overheads, and less money available for consumer spending and changing shopping habits

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 04:13 PM

You will find that many similar sad closures are happening in many countries, Dick- it can't al be the responsibility of Enda Kenny, or his company.
The world is changing.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 05:01 PM

Dick,

That sort of shop, which I love, would be hard pushed to stay in business in a medium sized town anywhere in the UK. Sad though it may be it is merely the change in our societies. Blacksmiths are few and far between, so are coopers, thatchers etc ..........etc

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 07:57 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrGa7LqLzA4

is this the sort of shop you mean? a part of ireland will never die -craggy island

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 09:54 PM

The children aren't interested in continuing them. I've spoken with several shopkeepers in Dingle, Ballyferriter, etc. and the answer is always the same. And something will move in to fill the vacuum.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 02:29 AM

yeh! look on the bright side! you might get a MacDonalds!

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 02:50 AM

Back in the early 80s when I was a 'mature' student
[ie I didn't start my degree until age 22 after the band split up],
I'd had to learn to lead a frugal lifestyle of making ends meet and things last...

So I nipped into a small shoe repair shop to buy a packet of segs.

The bloke in front by the counter was taking in a pair of knee length leather army style riding boots.

It turns out it was time for their regular heel and sole maitenance
as they had been worn continuously in his family for over 70 years...

You won't see much of that any more these days.......



Mind you, knee length leather army style riding boots ???
due to it being a hip trendy city, it was difficult to guess if he was from a strict military family,
or one with a very long tradition of decadent kinky bondage and S&M.......


errrmmmm..., or both !!!???

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 08:35 AM

Well, PFR, I have a pair of black brogue shoes that I wear with suits which I've had for 35 years. Just having their second re-sole now. Cheaneys, if I recall, though the tooled and punched name on the inside has long ago worn away.

I recently mended a wooden pepper mill that I've had for 40 years. The bar across the bottom holding the grinding gear in had just worn through with use....so I filed down a spare aluminium guy rope tightener from one of my tents and screwed it on in its place. Works (and looks, if anyone ever bothers to turn it upside down to inspect) fine.

My oldest camping stove is an original "Bluet" which my uncle gave me second hand when I was 10. Must be at least 60 years old by now. I've replaced the rubber canister seal and the control knob and it's still fine.

I also "make do and mend" with more modern stuff, such as mobile phones, computer mice, etc. I hate throwing stuff away and buying new if it can be fixed! I have one older Nokia where I've replaced the touch screen, the end cap, the HDMI connector and the camera flash, at different times, all with bits bought for a quid or two from eBay.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 08:37 AM

Erm....it's the brogues I've had for 35 years, worn with a variety of suits over that period!

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 10:04 AM

Boots are not made to last the way they used to obviously. I have just had to gets some new hiking boots after only 27 years of use!
The uppers came away from the soles which were only halfway worn down, and yes they have done several thousand miles of walking.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 11:42 AM

Ah yes, Black belt caterpillar wrestler, the Sole" departed from the body ! amen.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 02:31 PM

The previous few threads remind me of our old broom, it had only had four new sets of bristles and two new handles and was as good as new,



I'll get me coat!

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Dec 14 - 02:26 AM

Rapparee, "the children aren't interested" has been the case in most businesses in Ireland for many years; also the attitude that a business is something to make your fortune from and then sell up - the "exit strategy", as the term was during the Celtic Tiger years.
But it's not a new thing; if you read Liam O'Flaherty's satiric A Tourist's Guide to Ireland (published in 1929), he writes of the gombeen wringing profit out of his neighbours so that his children may become doctors and lawyers.
A book well worth reading if you're depressed out how Ireland is now; how far we've come. It's available on archive.org

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Good Soldier Schweik
Date: 20 Dec 14 - 03:18 PM

increased overheads such as increased rates was given as the reason.

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Dec 14 - 09:17 PM

you could always start a folk club - that would get the kids in....

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Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Good Soldier Schweik
Date: 21 Dec 14 - 06:54 AM

and the goats

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 15 - 02:40 PM

It was a wonderful shop. I never ceased to be amazed by the range of goods they stocked. A very sad day when it closed.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 23 Feb 15 - 07:15 AM

I remember posting to this thread as well, which seems to have been missed off here, so I'll add it:

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Dec 14

The rise of online shopping is changing the face of the high street everywhere. First, they came for the bookshops... then they came for the cinemas...

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 06:01 AM

true but if you want fuse wire, or a hot water bottle, or a bottle of whisky cos a friends popped by - you need it there and then. no use getting online to Amazon.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 07:53 AM

I couldn't agree more - but the bottom line is the bottom line. The real-world shops don't seem able to compete financially, else they wouldn't be dying like flies. It's an awful shame.

It's also changing things demographically, as people have fewer and fewer reasons to go out. And meet each other. And communicate.

:-(

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 08:45 AM

And we can add pubs to the "another part of rural Ireland" roster too . . .

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 15 - 12:31 PM

not in the small village where Wisemans is situated. 4 pubs are still going strong. Unfortunately the 5th one closed 20+ years ago and there the craic was mighty.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 25 Feb 15 - 10:10 AM

There once was shop in Woolwich, S.E London, in the 60`s which went under the name of SKILLMANS. It sold just about everything the home and garage handyman wanted but most importantly in small amounts if required. Nail, brads, screws, nuts and bolts, in every gauge, half a dozen at a time in little brown paper bags, metal sheets of all sorts and to your particular dimensions, (e.g. 20"x 12" would constitute no problem), every hand tool and workshop implement you could imagine. I`m sure you get the picture.

Not any more!

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Feb 15 - 04:25 AM

I live six miles from Durrus, The Village in question. as guest says one pub has closed,one supermarket has closed in the last 5 years there is no longer a petrol station, the creamery has closed, wisemans has now closed.
I am not sure if the 4 pubs are going strong particularly in the winter time, how often does guest visit Durrus?, I pass thorough it regularly in the winter time and the pubs do not look thriving, they look quiet. it does not alter the fact, that the infra structure in Durrus is getting smaller, no petrol station, no creamery one supermarket gone and the hardware shop[wisemans] now closed

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 15 - 07:50 AM

Going strong in the sense they are still in business. I see nothing to suggest they thrive. The logic of the breathalyser cannot be disputed, but it is sounding the death knell of many rural bars and increasing the loneliness and isolation of especially older people. The constant contraction of shops, services and transport is destroying parts of rural Ireland. The Celtic Tiger during both it's growth and decay
has wreaked havoc and it is ongoing.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Feb 15 - 02:46 PM

Jim Bainbridge stated categorically that Durras was the inspiration for Brian ORourke's great song, "Drumsnot".

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 03:48 AM

The death or financial hardship of the pubs is also impoverishing and reducing live sessions. Often the house guv would slip a few bob to a couple of musicians to turn up regularly each week, which serves as a nucleus to ensure that something is happening - attracting customers and other musos to come and join in (and buy drinks).

A good regular Thursday session here has just ceased - the pub is still in business, but they can no longer afford to pay the core musicians. And I can see why: the number of bar patrons has drastically decreased, so instead of the music drawing in more profits, it now bites into them. There's just not the crowd of people that there used to be. And of course, the players have lost some income.

The other sesh hangouts are struggling too, with fewer places to play or listen. It's partly the stronger drink/drive laws, partly that people have less disposable income, thanks to the economic mess the government allowed us to get into, and partly that folks don't go out as much anymore - they can now buy their goods and entertainment in the comfort of their own homes. So businesses suffer and close, reducing the number of public outlets... round and round she goes.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 08:11 AM

Every time a supermarket opens, local services close. And Tesco now controls 28% of the grocery market.

"We entered Ireland in 1997 with the acquisition of Associated British Foods' Irish retail operations, better known as the Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices retail chains. Our business has since grown to become the leading grocery retailer with 146 stores across the country."

The sourcing of products is a further problem. According to Wikipedia;

Tesco tried to hide its policy of buying directly from UK suppliers from Irish people. An internal document said that ensuring its policy of taking deliveries directly from UK suppliers went unnoticed and "invisible to the Irish customer" was a key objective.

At the same time the Irish Farmers' Association president said there was deep anger about Tesco's decision to displace local produce with imports "will inevitably lead to thousands of job losses and will put Irish producers of local, fresh produce out of business."

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 08:17 AM

AND at one time they charged Irish customers more for the same goods, no doubt figuring that we would be too lazy/stupid to do the conversion-figures between sterling and the euro. Ooooops. Guess what happened - fast - what THAT little goodie got into the blogoshpere...

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 08:23 AM

...when THAT little goodie got into the blogosphere

#proofreadfail

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Feb 15 - 08:27 AM

Al said
"true but if you want fuse wire, or a hot water bottle, or a bottle of whisky cos a friends popped by - you need it there and then. no use getting online to Amazon."
but actually it's a lot quicker if you want to buy - say - elastic, to go onto A than find a shop that sells it (especially if you live in rural England where there are shops 10 miles away in any direction, but who knows if they will have what you want.

Subject: RE: BS: another part of rural ireland dies
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 28 Feb 15 - 07:16 AM