ANNE DEVINE RETIRES FROM HICKEY’S PHARMACY.
LAST Saturday, Anne Devine stepped out from behind the counter in Hickeys Pharmacy for the last time after almost 50 years serving the public on West Street.
Anne has been a well known and trusted face to many locals in the town over the past 48 years, having worked first for Healys Pharmacy and then Hickeys Pharmacy when it opened 23 years ago.
Staff marked the occasion with a celebratory meal in West 29 on Saturday night.
‘ I started on March 16th, 1969 in Healy’s Pharmacy at the Tholsel. I’d worked in Arnotts before that for a little while.
Over the years, Anne has dealt with generations of families dispensing creams, medicine and advice on everything from nappy rash to chest infections and everything inbetween.
‘A lot of the regular customers would have known me from when I worked in Healys so they’re still here, they’ve been coming to me for decades. I’ll miss the customers, they’ve been lovely. Very loyal and they’ve all been coming in to say goodbye over the past week and sure the staff here are fantastic. They really make a fuss of me.’
It’s a very emotional day, it has been for the last week or so. It didn’t register with me until now I think but it’s a good thing for me, it’s what I wanted to do myself it’s just I will miss everyone. When this is all over and I get home I’ll be okay, it’s just saying goodbye to everyone is hard.’
However, Anne still plans to see her colleagues and customers as she plans to pop in regularly to see them all.
Despite her sadness at leaving behind the wonderful staff she has worked with over the years and her loyal customers, Anne is looking forward to her retirement and plans on spending plenty of quality time with her beloved grandchildren.
‘I’ve three grandchildren living out beside me in Monasterboice and another one on the way in February so I’m sure that’ll keep me busy!’
Wishing Anne well on her retirement, owner of Hickeys Paddy Hickey said: ‘Everyone on the street knows her, everyone in the town knows her. She’s a lovely person and we’ll really miss her. All of her customers will as well, generations of families know her. We have customers who come in to town every week and it’s part of their routine to see her. She’s a fixture on West Street.’