End of an era as Woolworths close

ON the way in the smiling face of multiple store trading greets you: Woolworths and Woolco present—£1 million family game— £10,000 prizes—£660,000 still to be won.

But inside Woolworths glamorous store at West St., Drogheda, there are no smiles behind the regimental blue uniforms. Rather you will see the hopeless, embitterd faces of the unemployed.

Last week’s decision by the British Woolworth group to amputate its Irish Republic arm, sell off its stores and make all the workers redundant was hard to take.

Among them its newly appointed manager Mr. John Champion, who was transferred four months ago from Cavan branch where he worked for 21 years.

“I have just sold my house in Cavan and trebled my mortgage to buy another house in Drogheda. It is very hard to reverse that, isn’t it? No, I had no inkling of the closure. Another job? Well I will be applying to other places just like the rest of the staff,” said the father of two.

One employer which the 12 full time and 14 part time staff will be looking to is Penneys, who are taking over the store.

“We are nearly all on top wages here because of our long service,” said Mary McGovern, who has been with the West Street shop 12 years. “Penneys may not want us when they can get 16-year-olds for half the salary.” She said that she needed a job now more than ever as she was getting married at the end of the year and had just bought a house.

Colette McAuley has been with the place all her working life. She began her career there when the store first opened on January 20, 1950.

“It is a whole upset,” said Miss McAuley. “The news just came out of the blue. We were not expecting it. But this is 1984 and these things are happening every day of the week.”

Mrs. Sally Barrett is with the shop five years. She said Woolworths would be missed in Drogheda. It was the best stationery shop in town and a lot of people bought their stationery since the closure of Schwer’s.

It was also the biggest make-up and toy store. “The children will miss it for the toys and the girls the make-up which we sell a lot cheaper than the chemists.”