FINAL DAY FOR CLOTH HALL
THE owners of The Cloth Hall, Paddy and Elizabeth Walsh were given a warm sendoff by the business community of New Ross on Friday, the day they closed the century old business premises.
One of the great New Ross clothes and drapery shops, The Cloth Hall closed on Friday evening having clothed generations of families in the area.
A shopping institution over three floors, the clothes and household goods shopping emporium on South Street is a landmark premises and was a former bank which is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage 1870-1880.
Paddy began working in the drapery business, which was run by his father Paddy, in his teens having finished at St Peter’s College and was handed the keys when he was 18.
He ran the business for 48 years, Elizabeth joining him by his side for most of his tenure at the coalface serving customers.
Businesspeople from the town’s main trading streets gathered at the M&J Diner, where Paddy and Elizabeth were surprised with gifts, including Waterford crystal and flowers.
Auctioneer and friend of the Walsh’s Des Moloney thanked them for their contribution to the business life of the town over five decades and wished them every happiness in their well deserved retirement.
Everyone enjoyed food courtesy of the diner, which is itself 40 years trading, while Daisy Doyle made a cake which everyone enjoyed.
Paddy and Elizabeth were thrilled with the support they received at the send-off party and were emotional having closed the doors on a business they put so much of their lives into.