Closure of Doyle’s is ‘frightening’

THE councillors extended their sympathies to members of the Doyle family who recently closed their butchers after 47 years in business.

Cllr Johnny Mythen said that the area of the town was becoming a blackspot for business but said that he doesn’t have the answers to resolve it.

‘ To see such a good business going down is frightening,’ he said. ‘Every job matters.’

Outgoing chairperson Cllr Paddy Kavanagh said he didn’t have the answers either. He informed the members that there were 14 butchers in Enniscorthy 12 years ago but now there are only three.

‘ There was a time when a person wouldn’t buy meat in a supermarket but now that has all changed,’ he said. ‘It is a shame that multiples are taking out family-run businesses.’

‘Everything we have done, we have done in good faith,’ he added, paying reference to the development of largescale stores in the town in recent years. ‘No matter what we have done, the tide seems to be coming in on us.’

‘I’m not offering excuses. My heart goes out to them all.’

Cllr Kavanagh said that although they are ‘supposed to have the answers’ he doesn’t know what the answer is. He mentioned the Templeshannon project and said that he hoped it would help to relieve some of the business degeneration.

‘Maybe we can get that project fast-tracked,’ said Cllr Mythen. ‘If we don’t do something soon, we are going to be in trouble.’

Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan said that she is very sad to hear of the Doyle’s closure, saying that the family were the real ‘movers and shakers’ among butchers in the town.