Businesses, retail Closing in small town Ireland.

aidanodr

This August THREE large MAIN STREET businesses in Carrigaline, Co. Cork are closing for good.

The ABBEY Bar and restaurant, Moores Jewellers, Ó Crualaoí butchers & delicatessens ( already closed )

A Few Other smaller businesses either closing due to retirement OR moving off main street

Evening Echo, Local Carrigdhoun Newspaper etc published articles on these closures.

Locals are obviously worried about this and it has caused much discussion about the town and its development or lack of over the years.

Some say Carrigaline is just one big housing estate .. no centre was every developed when it grew from a village of a few thousand to near 20,000 now. Im sure a similar story could be told of many other small towns around the country during and post boom?

What ever about the main cities is this a phenomenon elsewhere in small town Ireland?

I have noticed similar threads here about Sligo, Enniscorthy. And saw articles online about Naas and other towns that have gone through closures like this.

Post crash is it due to recovery only happening in the large cities, not percolating down or might never do so?

Has small town Ireland been scarred so badly by the crash it will be difficult to recover?

OR is it just down to bad planning catching up with us? Minimal investment for years etc?

OR .. as one of the above businesses mentioned on there Facebook page - part of it is ONLINE retail & local biz cannot compete with same?

OR a mix of all the above?

questionmark?

Don't think Carrigaline can be compared to small town Ireland issues which impact many rural areas.

The population is big enough to support business in the town but it faces a number of issues, traffic, lack of clear town centre not creating scale to compete with the city, traffic, fact people often sleep there but live their lives in Cork city,overbearing rates, traffic etc...

ofcork

Apparently a number have closed in macroom in recent months.

questionmark?

ofcork wrote: »

Apparently a number have closed in macroom in recent months.

A town chocked to death by traffic. Once bypass is built then the town needs to grab the opportunity to turn the place around. Make it somewhere you would want to stop.

JP Liz V1

ofcork wrote: »

Apparently a number have closed in macroom in recent months.

O' Riadas and Riverside Hotel both closing I believe in Macroom

ofcork

That's right apparently asylum seekers going into Riverside.

Edgware

I often wonder why Irish towns and indeed villages dont seem to be able to support local businesses. In France places with small enough population in rural areas seem to be able to support bakery, pattiserrie, Post Office, Garage/Petrol station etc. They would often have an Intermarche in the town.
In England towns re also able to support independent businesses like butchers, greencrocers etc even though it is getting tough.
The pub trade in rural towns is finished wth a complete change in social habits. But Carrgaline with its population shuld be better than a dormitory town

Be right back

O'Briens in Fermoy is closing today with a Ramen restaurant opening here instead!