Tully's closes after 86 years
ONE OF WEST STREET'S MOST FAMOUS NAMES SHUTS DOORS FOR LAST TIME
The shutters have come down on Hubert Tully and Co Ltd after 86 years in business.
ONE of the most famous establishments on West Street over the last century, Tullys, closed its doors for the last time on Saturday with the loss of 12 jobs.
The company, founded in 1924 by James Tully, ceased trading last weekend and it is likely a liquidator will be appointed shortly.
Their second store at the M1 Retail Park also closed on Saturday with seven parttime workers let go there.
For Barry Tully, it's a day he felt 'would never come. but finally has'.
' Tullys was a part of Drogheda's tradition, if you wanted something, this was the place to come to. It's a sad day for us,' he told the Drogheda Independent.
And although the present economic climate has not helped, the works in relation to the pedestrianisation of West Street tore the heart from the business.
'I'm all for anything that improves a town but the delay in the West Street project killed us, just killed us. It was supposed to last a year – and most firms might cope with that – but it went on for two years and when it was finished, the people were gone,' Barry explained.
The opening of the two business parks added to the hit on West Street.
' They shouldn't have opened until West Street was up and running again so they took a lot from the street,' he added.
Indeed, Tullys opened up an outlet at the retail park in Mell in June 2006 to aid delivery of bulk goods and due to the lack of parking on West Street. But the collapse of the residential housing market impacted greatly on that development.
'With every shop that closes on West Street it is a blow but there's fear there and people are just buying what they need. It's a shame to see another attraction gone off West Street,' Barry remarked.
He praised the landlord, Michael McBrin, for his support in recent months as the company fought to continue.
Tullys opened in 1923 and was taken on by Hubert and Jim Tully with Hubert becoming a household name in the business community in Drogheda. The present store opened in 1985.
For many of the traditional shoppers, the final act, the removal of the Hubert Tully sign will be the biggest and saddest moment in the history of the local retail business.
For the moment, Barry Tully was taking stock of the situation on Monday, pondering on the immediate future.
'Personally, I don't know what I'll do. We are busy getting things sorted out in the shop at the moment, with people coming to collect goods that haven't been paid for and that will continue for the next few days.
'I just want to say thanks to the many, many people who have shopped in Tullys down the years and given their support to us.
'To our own staff, some of whom served us for 30 years, it's tough to say goodbye to them,' he concluded.
- Hubert MURPHY
