Store closes after spate of burglaries
SEVEN burglaries in seven years, and rising overheads, have forced the owners of the Gala shop in Craanford to close their doors. The shutters will come down for the final time on March 15 next.
Michael and Eileen Doyle have run the convenience store in the heart of the village for the past 12 years. Eileen said it was a difficult decision to make.
‘We have a lot of loyal customers, who supported us well, particularly older people, but it’s been a tough few years,’ she said. ‘We’ve had seven burglaries in seven years, and each time they broke in, the cost of our insurance went up and we had to upgrade our security each time. Insurance went up to almost €5,000.’
She said that competition from the large supermarkets in Gorey also had an impact, but the cost of overheads had the biggest effect. ‘Even when it was quiet, our overheads remained the same,’ she said.
Eileen commented that the shop was seen as being at the heart of the community where local lotto tickets were sold, Mass cards were bought, and parcels were left for collection. Despite this activity, business continued to fall off. ‘Every year, it seemed to get that bit quieter,’ she stated. ‘We cut down on staff and worked longer hours ourselves.’
Alongside Michael and Eileen, seven part-time staff will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. She said they are unsure what their plans for the premises are. Both Eileen and Michael thanked all who supported them over the past 12 years.