Shops you remember from your childhood (Ennis)

Lady Chatterton

I was visiting Ennis over the weekend and I was shocked to see the number of shops that have closed down.

I have great memories of growing up in Ennis and going shopping as a young child. Here is a list of shops/businesses I remember. Does anyone else remember these shops/businesses? I'm sure there are loads more that I have forgotten about.

Willie Burkes, Mill Road
Joe Mc's or McNamara's, Mill Road
Roughans (Hardware Store) Cornmarket Street
Danny Callinan (Hardware Store) Cornmarket Street
McMahon's, (Sweet shop) Cornmarket Street
Brodericks (Grocers) Parnell Street
Spellissey's Secondhand Bookshop, Parnell Street
Ryans (Grocers) Parnell Street
Owen Lynchs (Pharmacy) Parnell Street
Walter Hacketts (Barber) Parnell Street
McMahon's Newsagents and Toy shop, The Square.
Winstons (Drapery) High Street
Knoxs (Grocers) Abbey Street
Tylers (Shoe Shop) Abbey Street
Buglers (Pharmacy) Abbey Street
PJ Keanes (Hardware) Abbey Street
Best Wear (Tourist Shop) O'Connell Street
Keanes (Sweet shop) O'Connell Street
Epicene, Lower Market Street
The Beehive, O'Connell Street
Bakers, Barrack Street
Howards, Newbridge Road
Costelloes Fish Shop, Market Street
Gleesons (Ennis' first discount store) Market Street
Cropera's Discount Store, Market Street
Beatrice's Sweet shop, Abbey Street (One of my favourites )

Clareboy

Yes, I remember many of those old shops. There are about 70 empty shop units in Ennis at present and we have local councilors crowing about the need for more new retail developments for the town! Will these guys ever learn!

Does anyone remember Honan's Travel Agency and Bakery that stood at the corner of O' Connell St. and Lower Market Street. One side of the shop was a bakery and the travel agency was on the other side. There were numerous cats that used to sit on the shelves with the loaves of bread!

Lady Chatterton

Honan's Travel, was that where Flynn's chemist was? I can't say I remember that bakery though. I remember McNamara's Bakery (O'Connell Street) and Mulqueens Bakery (Parnell Street) though.

Clareboy

Yes, I think so, there is a 3 phone shop there now.

Shops that I remember:

Lipton's Grocery of of Abbey Street ( now The Ennis Book Shop )

T. Burke's Shoe Shop, O' Connell St. ( now T. Mannion Travel)

Barron's Grocery, O' Connell St.

Halpin's Tea Rooms, Upper O' Connell St.

Enright's Grocery, O' Connell St.

Kennedy and Co. Milinery and Mantles, Bank Place

The Ennis Hardware Store ( Prop. Nicolas Howley), Parnell St.

The Market Shoemaker, Lower Market St.

McMahon's Bicycle Shop, Chapel Lane

Hewitts Newagents, Chapel Lane

Hayes Bookshop and Newsagent, ( Prop Gerry O' Connell), Abbey St.

Five Star Supermarket, Abbey St.

Nono's Fancy Goods, O' Connell St.

O' Doherty's Hardware, Lower Market St.

McInerney's Hardware ( Prop. Jack Daly ) Lower Market St, ( now Merchant's Square)

Dolans Chip Shop at the top of O' Connell St.

Lady Chatterton

My dad has just taken early retirement (he is 60 this year). I recently bought him a laptop and I'm trying to give him a crash course in computing and an introduction to Boards. I'd say he would probably know a lot of the businesses you have mentioned so I'm going to ask him if he does. I'd say he would enjoy reminiscing.

However, I do remember Nicholas Howleys, McInerney's Hardware, O'Doherty's and McMahon's Bicycle shop. I remember my parents talking about Tuttle's Chip Shop, I presume you heard of them - characters by all accounts.

Clareboy

Your dad is around the same age as myself, so he would remember many of those old Ennis businesses. Sean Spellissy published a book some years ago entiltled The Merchants of Ennis which gives a brief account of all the business people of the town. It is a facinating read for any old native of Ennis. Hope your dad will be able to master the laptop and get on to boards.ie in the near future.

ollaetta

MrsD007 wrote: »

Winstons (Drapery) High Street
PJ Keanes (Hardware) Abbey Street

If Winstons was the one on the corner currently occupied by Irish Nationwide, I also remember it as Cannocks.

Was PJ Keanes where Elverys is now? I remember either it or Knoxs having one of those wire pulley gizmos for transporting dockets from the counters to a cash office.

A few others at random:

Collins Fruit and Veg, Abbey Street (now Enzos)
Griffins Drapery, The Square (now National Irish Bank)
Bakers Toy Shop, Abbey Street (now either Costello Estate Agents or the one between it and the O2 shop)
A small grocer shop where the Cloister pub is (name may have been Curtin)
Conways Drapery, Lower Market Street (now CD2)

Balagan

Photos from way way back!
http://www.ihpc.ie/ihpc/main/Town.asp?iTownID=86&iCountyID=7
Kennedy's (later Cannocks) is the last photo.
Careful now sharing these with anyone local aged late 50's or older - the photos of that huge Convent of Mercy (was the National School, now Temple Gate area) can bring on hyperventilation and the shivers and they won't thank you!

Clareboy

Keanes Hardware of Abbey St. was the shop with the gizmo that carried the money from the different counters to the cashier.

Other old Ennis shops that I recalled overnight:

Seymours Chemist, O' Connell Square

Ranalow and O' Brien, Radio and TV Dealers, O' Connell St. ( now Meteor )

John Sheehan, Electrical, O' Connell St.

McEvoy's Singing Lounge, Upper Market Street.

Matt Cunningham, Clare Road

Twomey Walsh, Drapers, Parnell St.

Dervan's Fancy Goods, Parnell St.

gravityisalie

upstairs down stairs on abbey street ,twas a tourist shop

maryb26

I think you will find it was Collins drapery shop where cd2 is now. Remember being sent into Mcnamaras bakery for their buns but have no idea what they looked like or tasted like.

angelfire9

Balagan wrote: »

Photos from way way back!
http://www.ihpc.ie/ihpc/main/Town.asp?iTownID=86&iCountyID=7
Kennedy's (later Cannocks) is the last photo.
Careful now sharing these with anyone local aged late 50's or older - the photos of that huge Convent of Mercy (was the National School, now Temple Gate area) can bring on hyperventilation and the shivers and they won't thank you!

I made my first confession in the convent of mercy chapel that is now the function room of the Temple Gate

maiden

Mary Keanes sweet shop across from the entrance to Dunnes!!

nom, nom,nom,nom

Shapey Fiend

Too many to mention. I'll just rattle off the ones I liked the most as a kid. Used always go to Knoxes, and the very old world hardware/bit of everything shop that's where Bar 1 is now.. or around there anyway to buy my matchbox cars. Then over to Mulqueens bakery for some jelly trifle.

By the time I was 8 or so I was obsessed with arcade games so I spent most of my time around 1990 onwards in arcades. You'd one where the fish shop used be opposite the side door of Yolos. Hurdy Gurdys music shop where Abrekebabras is became an arcade for a year as well, before turning into Luigis and the arcade going upstairs.

There was Games Master opposite Downes & Howards which did NES rentals and had a Street Fighter 2 machine. And Planet Games next to D&H that let you pay to play consoles by the half hour. GM owner committed suicide I think. Shame, he was a really nice to all the kids used hang about in there all day.

maiden

Teach de Burgo

Little theatre

Chicken Empire

Jesus no wonder Im overweight, its all food places I remember!

AaronEnnis

Anyone remember the name of that shop where the 2 Euro shop is now? It had Premier League stickers, lego and various other excellent crap. Would have been about 10-15 years ago..

Balagan

maryb26 wrote: »

I think you will find it was Collins drapery shop where cd2 is now. Remember being sent into Mcnamaras bakery for their buns but have no idea what they looked like or tasted like.

You're right and Collinses also had a gizmo on a wire to the cashier's office.

Balagan

AaronEnnis wrote: »

Anyone remember the name of that shop where the 2 Euro shop is now? It had Premier League stickers, lego and various other excellent crap. Would have been about 10-15 years ago..

Wasn't that McMahon's which the OP mentioned? Great magazine selection for the time that was in it.

Lady Chatterton

AaronEnnis wrote: »

Anyone remember the name of that shop where the 2 Euro shop is now? It had Premier League stickers, lego and various other excellent crap. Would have been about 10-15 years ago..

That was definitely McMahon's Shop, it was run by Niall & Gertrude McMahan. I loved going in there as a child, they had a newsagents, a gift shop on the ground floor and a toy shop on the first floor.

Lady Chatterton

ollaetta wrote: »

A few others at random:

Collins Fruit and Veg, Abbey Street (now Enzos)
Griffins Drapery, The Square (now National Irish Bank)
Bakers Toy Shop, Abbey Street (now either Costello Estate Agents or the one between it and the O2 shop)
A small grocer shop where the Cloister pub is (name may have been Curtin)
Conways Drapery, Lower Market Street (now CD2)

Ok, I checked with my dad and he informs me that the small grocer shop where the Cloister Pub is now was called Delia Curtins.

Conway's Drapery, Lower Market Street (now CD2) was actually Collin's Drapery and would later become Epicene, a wonderful gift shop run by Maeve Smyth.

Cannock and Westons were the same place (Nationwide)

I remember Griffin's Drapery too (where NIB is now) they used to sell the Colaiste Muire uniforms upstairs and when the shop closed Oonagh Griffin opened up Ennis' first lingerie shop called White Mischief in Francis Street, she continued to sell the Colaiste Muire uniforms from there. I remember as a very young teenager calling to her shop with my best friend to collect my uniform and parading around town for longer than was necessary to show off my "White Mischief" bag. The innocences of it...

Lady Chatterton

Clareboy wrote: »

Keanes Hardware of Abbey St. was the shop with the gizmo that carried the money from the different counters to the cashier.

Other old Ennis shops that I recalled overnight:

Seymours Chemist, O' Connell Square

Ranalow and O' Brien, Radio and TV Dealers, O' Connell St. ( now Meteor )

John Sheehan, Electrical, O' Connell St.

McEvoy's Singing Lounge, Upper Market Street.

Matt Cunningham, Clare Road

Twomey Walsh, Drapers, Parnell St.

Dervan's Fancy Goods, Parnell St.

I remember all of those stores you have mentioned. The gizmo in PJ Keanes was actually something he inherited from the previous ower, Joe Kenny of Joe Kenny Hardware.

Lady Chatterton

I have added in some locations to help some of the younger Boardies

Clareboy wrote: »

Yes, I think so, there is a 3 phone shop there now.

Shops that I remember:

Lipton's Grocery of of Abbey Street ( now The Ennis Book Shop )

T. Burke's Shoe Shop, O' Connell St. ( now T. Mannion Travel)

Barron's Grocery, O' Connell St.

Halpin's Tea Rooms, Upper O' Connell St. (Veritas)

Enright's Grocery, O' Connell St. (65 O'Connell St)

Kennedy and Co. Milinery and Mantles, Bank Place (Nationwide Building)

The Ennis Hardware Store ( Prop. Nicolas Howley), Parnell St.

The Market Shoemaker, Lower Market St. ( owned by Peter Kelly and next to the phone store in the market)

McMahon's Bicycle Shop, Chapel Lane (Celtic Bookmakers)

Hewitts Newagents, Chapel Lane

Hayes Bookshop and Newsagent, ( Prop Gerry O' Connell), Abbey St. (Was the TBS, now a bookmakers)

Five Star Supermarket, Abbey St. (was most recently a card shop)

Nono's Fancy Goods, O' Connell St. (next to Collins Jewellers)

O' Doherty's Hardware, Lower Market St. (Near the Multi Storey Carpark)

McInerney's Hardware ( Prop. Jack Daly ) Lower Market St, ( now Merchant's Square)

Dolans Chip Shop at the top of O' Connell St. (Paddy Vaughan's Auctioneers)

Shapey Fiend

maiden wrote: »

Mary Keanes sweet shop across from the entrance to Dunnes!!

nom, nom,nom,nom

Was that the one called Sweet Dreams or something? I opened when I was about 5 and only lasted a couple of years. Think it's a handbag shop now. Was totally gutted when that closed.

Lady Chatterton

Ok Clareboy, I have a few more stores especially for you, some I must admit came from the memory man aka my dad.

Coffey's Garage, Woodquay (Paul Flynns)
Sean O'Farrell, Newsagents, Mill Road (Opposite Clare People)
Nora Flanagan, Grocer, Mill Road (Michelle O'Keeffe Solicitors)
Myles Cummins Butcher, Mill Road (Kevin Leyden Butchers)
Reilly’s Butchers, Parnell Street (Tattoo parlour)
Tom Keane's Bicycle Shop, Parnell Street (opposite the Baron McQs)
Joe Guthrie’s Butchers, Parnell Street.
Paddy Arthur's Grocers and Public House, Parnell Street (opposite Twomey Walsh Interiors)
Neylon’s Butchers, Parnell Street (Clothes store next to AXA insurance)
Malones Supermarket, Parnell Street (Close to the old Kiely’s store)
Moloney’s Supermarket & Off Licence (near the Empire Movieplex)
Armstrong’s better known as Piggot’s drapery, Parnell Street (Scarlett Bridal & Top Secret)
John Daly’s Men’s Drapers, Parnell Street (FAS)
Frank Barrington Menswear, Parnell Street/High Street (Charity shop next to Patrick Bourkes)
Trash N Treasure (owned by Vincent Killowrey) Parnell Street
Monaghan’s Bakery (K&G’s Hair Salon)
Carmel’s Children’s Boutique (owned by Carmel Healy) Parnell Street
Tommy Power’s Pub, later Pat Freeman’s Deli, High Street (Shane Logue Hair Salon)
Mulqueen’s Bakery, Parnell Street (Lifestyle Sports)
Rita Casey, Ladies Boutique, Parnell Street, (next to the Oxfam bookshop)
Con Delaney’s Hardware, High Street, (Patrick Bourke’s Menswear)
The Local Drycleaners (run by Mrs. Clarke) Parnell Street (opposite O’Connor’s Bakery)
Duggan’s Launderette, Parnell Street (next to O’Connor’s Bakery)
Paddy Casey Butcher, Parnell Street (Photoworld)
Powers Betting Office, Parnell Street (Opposite FAS)

Garry’s Newsagent, Chapel Lane
Shinners Newsagents, The Market
Haulie Keane's Sweet Shop, Lower Market Street (next Kelly's butchers)
Aine Fennell’s Boutique, Lower Market Street
O'Halloran's Sweet Shop, Market Street
Michael Coote, Jeweller, Upper Market Street
Brownes Bakery & Grocers, Upper Market Street
Alf Hogan's Betting Shop, Lower Market Street (Record Rack)

Madigan's Shop, Barrack Street (Chinese Restaurant)

Marcel Cornu, Electrical Store, Abbey Street (O2 Shop)
Daly’s Ladieswear, Abbey Street (next to the O2 shop)
Freddie Ruttle Jewellers, Abbey Street (accessories shop next to Tierneys)
Alfie Ryan's furniture, Abbey Street (Tom Hollys)
Currans Bakery & Restaurant (run by Michael Cremins) now Young World
Dan O'Driscoll's Gift Shop, Abbey Street.

Connaught Dry Cleaners, O’Connell Street (now the restaurant next to Supermacs)
Hency's Newsagents, O'Connell Street (now Mary Kelly's)
Byrnes Shoe Shop, O'Connell Street
JJ Murphy’s Fashions, O’Connell Street (now a game store)
Shanahan’s Paint Shop, O’Connell Street (Collins Jewellers)
Shanahan’s Gaiety Store, O’Connell Street (Fifth Gear Menswear)
The Cash Company, O’Connell Street (Cassidy’s Pharmacy)
Griffin’s Antiques, O’Connell Street (near Permanent TSB)
C.V. Mahon's Betting Shop, O'Connell Street (near the Town Hall)
RTV Rentals, O'Connell Street (Seodin)

Christy Donovan Potato Merchant, Clare Road (next to Clare Road Tyre Centre)
Manning’s Garage, Clare Road (Clare Road Tyre Centre)

Lady Chatterton

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Too many to mention. I'll just rattle off the ones I liked the most as a kid. Used always go to Knoxes, and the very old world hardware/bit of everything shop that's where Bar 1 is now.. or around there anyway to buy my matchbox cars. Then over to Mulqueens bakery for some jelly trifle.

By the time I was 8 or so I was obsessed with arcade games so I spent most of my time around 1990 onwards in arcades. You'd one where the fish shop used be opposite the side door of Yolos. Hurdy Gurdys music shop where Abrekebabras is became an arcade for a year as well, before turning into Luigis and the arcade going upstairs.

.

LOL My mother used to take us kids grocery shopping in Knoxs too and my brother used to get Matchbox cars in Tierney's across the street. Tierney's are still trading and I still pop in to pick up some usual toys. The place is an Aladdin's cave of wonderful toys. I had completely forgotten about Hurdy Gurdy until you mentioned it, that was run by a very nice musician called Joe Galligan (I think). My mother was an O'Connor's Bakery woman so we rarely shopped at Mulqueens. I also remember that we used to buy "long loaves" directly from the Mills Bakery beside Willie Burkes, they used to be still piping hot. I have great memories of spreading "farmers butter" from Brodericks on the fresh bread. Simple pleasures eh!

Clareboy

MrsD007 wrote: »

Ok Clareboy, I have a few more stores especially for you, some I must admit came from the memory man aka my dad.

Coffey's Garage, Woodquay (Paul Flynns)
Sean O'Farrell, Newsagents, Mill Road (Opposite Clare People)
Nora Flanagan, Grocer, Mill Road (Michelle O'Keeffe Solicitors)
Myles Cummins Butcher, Mill Road (Kevin Leyden Butchers)
Reilly’s Butchers, Parnell Street (Tattoo parlour)
Tom Keane's Bicycle Shop, Parnell Street (opposite the Baron McQs)
Joe Guthrie’s Butchers, Parnell Street.
Paddy Arthur's Grocers and Public House, Parnell Street (opposite Twomey Walsh Interiors)
Neylon’s Butchers, Parnell Street (Clothes store next to AXA insurance)
Malones Supermarket, Parnell Street (Close to the old Kiely’s store)
Moloney’s Supermarket & Off Licence (near the Empire Movieplex)
Armstrong’s better known as Piggot’s drapery, Parnell Street (Scarlett Bridal & Top Secret)
John Daly’s Men’s Drapers, Parnell Street (FAS)
Frank Barrington Menswear, Parnell Street/High Street (Charity shop next to Patrick Bourkes)
Trash N Treasure (owned by Vincent Killowrey) Parnell Street
Monaghan’s Bakery (K&G’s Hair Salon)
Carmel’s Children’s Boutique (owned by Carmel Healy) Parnell Street
Tommy Power’s Pub, later Pat Freeman’s Deli, High Street (Shane Logue Hair Salon)
Mulqueen’s Bakery, Parnell Street (Lifestyle Sports)
Rita Casey, Ladies Boutique, Parnell Street, (next to the Oxfam bookshop)
Con Delaney’s Hardware, High Street, (Patrick Bourke’s Menswear)
The Local Drycleaners (run by Mrs. Clarke) Parnell Street (opposite O’Connor’s Bakery)
Duggan’s Launderette, Parnell Street (next to O’Connor’s Bakery)
Paddy Casey Butcher, Parnell Street (Photoworld)
Powers Betting Office, Parnell Street (Opposite FAS)

Garry’s Newsagent, Chapel Lane
Shinners Newsagents, The Market
Haulie Keane's Sweet Shop, Lower Market Street (next Kelly's butchers)
Aine Fennell’s Boutique, Lower Market Street
O'Halloran's Sweet Shop, Market Street
Michael Coote, Jeweller, Upper Market Street
Brownes Bakery & Grocers, Upper Market Street
Alf Hogan's Betting Shop, Lower Market Street (Record Rack)

Madigan's Shop, Barrack Street (Chinese Restaurant)

Marcel Cornu, Electrical Store, Abbey Street (O2 Shop)
Daly’s Ladieswear, Abbey Street (next to the O2 shop)
Freddie Ruttle Jewellers, Abbey Street (accessories shop next to Tierneys)
Alfie Ryan's furniture, Abbey Street (Tom Hollys)
Currans Bakery & Restaurant (run by Michael Cremins) now Young World
Dan O'Driscoll's Gift Shop, Abbey Street.

Connaught Dry Cleaners, O’Connell Street (now the restaurant next to Supermacs)
Hency's Newsagents, O'Connell Street (now Mary Kelly's)
Byrnes Shoe Shop, O'Connell Street
JJ Murphy’s Fashions, O’Connell Street (now a game store)
Shanahan’s Paint Shop, O’Connell Street (Collins Jewellers)
Shanahan’s Gaiety Store, O’Connell Street (Fifth Gear Menswear)
The Cash Company, O’Connell Street (Cassidy’s Pharmacy)
Griffin’s Antiques, O’Connell Street (near Permanent TSB)
C.V. Mahon's Betting Shop, O'Connell Street (near the Town Hall)
RTV Rentals, O'Connell Street (Seodin)

Christy Donovan Potato Merchant, Clare Road (next to Clare Road Tyre Centre)
Manning’s Garage, Clare Road (Clare Road Tyre Centre)

Thanks Mrs007 and also thanks to your dad for this list of the old shops of Ennis - brings so many memories flooding back. I used to get my car serviced at Coffey's Garage on Wood Quay. Sean O' Farrell's shopfront has been rebuilt at Bunratty Folk Park. My grandmother used to do her shopping or ' the messages' as they used to say in those days at Paddy Arthur's. As far as I know, Arthurs was the last traditional bar and grocery to operate in Ennis. My late mother used to love to go to Donovan's auctions in the Clare Road. My late father used to bet on the horses at Powers, Parnell St. Thanks again for the memories.

Lady Chatterton

Clareboy wrote: »

Thanks Mrs007 and also thanks to your dad for this list of the old shops of Ennis - brings so many memories flooding back. I used to get my car serviced at Coffey's Garage on Wood Quay. Sean O' Farrell's shopfront has been rebuilt at Bunratty Folk Park. My grandmother used to do her shopping or ' the messages' as they used to say in those days at Paddy Arthur's. As far as I know, Arthurs was the last traditional bar and grocery to operate in Ennis. My late mother used to love to go to Donovan's auctions in the Clare Road. My late father used to bet on the horses at Powers, Parnell St. Thanks again for the memories.

Hi Clareboy, I'm delighted that the list brought back some happy memories to you as my dad and I had great craic compiling the list. If you come up with anymore businesses yourself you might post them on the thread as I'm sure that dad would love to go through them. Regards, Mrs D

dh0661

My OH remembers a little sweet shop "Jimmys" ??? near the school on Kilrush Road.

Lady Chatterton

dh0661 wrote: »

My OH remembers a little sweet shop "Jimmys" ??? near the school on Kilrush Road.

I'd say that was Enrights shop beside the Boys National.

McConkey

Some of the newer ones-from the 80's (and 90's):

Ado's betting office?
Varden's....used to do supplies for dairy farmers in the market.
Dillingers

maryb26

Used to love the knickerbocker glory in the Beehive cafe in O'Connell St.