| BALLYBOFEY
- PAST AND PRESENT |
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Without fear of contradiction, those of us
lucky enough to be living in the beautiful Finn Valley can
name Ballybofey as the friendliest little market town in
Europe. With some of Donegal's largest wholesalers based
here, it's not surprising that so many local men are employed
as delivery drivers, supplying bacon, eggs, vegetables,
soft drinks, timber and tyres throughout County Donegal
and further afield.
Stretching into the distant past, the whole
tradition of Ballybofey is marketing…and so it remains
until the present day, but instead of beginning our biography
of Ballybofey in the past, let's start with the present
day - and the Heart of Irish Shopping... |
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McElhinney's Stores, the North-West's biggest
and best department store has recently undergone a complete
internal revamp, with the addition of a new €6.5 million
extension, rivalling (if not surpassing) Dublin's leading
retailing giants…Brown Thomas, Clery's and Arnotts.
From humble beginnings in a small shop in
Glenfin Street (now O'Connor's Bakery), McElhinney's has
gone from strength to strength and is now one of the area's
biggest employers - and its main draw - attracting a steady
flow of customers from Northern Ireland and indeed, from
every part of the world.
Apart from stocking all the top brand names,
designer labels and a vast selection of quality merchandise
throughout their numerous departments, the secret of McElhinney's
success undoubtedly lies in the warm, friendly and informal
atmosphere, seldom seen in any retail outlet these days.
Indeed, in today's hi-tech society where the customer is
all too often overlooked in favour of cost-effectiveness,
McElhinney's have managed to make the transition from small,
family-run business to big department store look easy.
Well
done John, Eileen and staff…and long may your success
continue!
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| Main
Street |
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Browsing around Ballybofey's Main Street, the modern day
visitor might be surprised to learn just how many of these
bright, colourful shops and public houses have been trading
here for generations, passed down from father to son...and
mostly managing to keep their traditional welcoming atmosphere.
McLaughlin's The Old Coach Inn is the oldest public house
in Ballybofey, established in 1888 and still going strong.
Although tastefully refurbished by the present owner, John
McLaughlin, the cozy, intimate interior still retains many
original features. It is especially interesting to note
that at the rear of the premises stands the original staging
inn - where weary travellers, making their way from the
Rosses, Gweedore and further afield, stopped off for a nights
rest before continuing on their journeys.
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| Murphys |
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In 1939, when Margaret Murphy founded Murphy & Co. in
Ballybofey, the world was a different place indeed. The business,
now run by the third generation of Murphys - Margaret's grandsons
- still serves its customers from the physical space it took
over from the Magees in 1939, on Main Street. Through this
time, the Murphy name became synonymous with fine quality
Irish clothing and top-quality service.
The current generation of Murphys tending the business
- Paul and Conor - bring a wealth of experience in apparel,
as well as customer service and international commerce.
Paul works from Ballybofey, while Conor manages all North
American operations from New York.
Together with a staff of employees in Ireland and North
America, Paul and Conor constantly work to ensure that your
experience is just as satisfying when ordering from your
home far away as it was visiting the Murphys in Ballybofey
during the past half century. Their URL can be found on
our links page. |
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