J Costello in Grange returned to its former glory – in local GAA colours!
LOCAL endeavour from the Grange Tidy Towns committee allied to support from the Sligo Town and Village Renewal Scheme dovetailed perfectly last week to ensure that a treasured local landmark, J Costello’s shop on the northern edge of the village, has been returned to some of its former glory.
The detached two-bay, two-storey rendered shop, which dates back to 1860, had in recent years looked the worse for wear and in bad need of some attention.
In a 2004 entry, the Irish Buildings Guide stated: “Combined commercial and residential uses were a common feature of the Irish town until the later stages of the 20th century. This attractive example, on the edge of the village, retains its sash windows and a substantial and well-detailed shopfront.”
As our ‘before’ picture shows, it was indeed in a sad and sorry state, but since the makeover the shop has been earning lots of favourable comment. The sash windows, sadly, are now boarded up to ensure the physical integrity of the building, but the main focal point, the old shop front, remains as eye-catching as ever.
Many took to social media to recall calling into the shop to buy papers and more, while others shared memories of how busy it was.
Last week, thanks to an initiative led by the hard-working Grange Tidy Towns Committee, the shop was transformed. With the support of local land owners and Sligo County Council, contractors Donlon Civil Works carried out the work and did a superb job.
The colours chosen for the ‘makeover’ are no coincidence – they mirror the green and white of the local GAA club, St Molaise Gaels.
This latest project is just one of many improvements by the local Tidy Towns committee that have given the village a lift. The various flower displays and clean-up work in many other areas by a team of volunteers have all enhanced Grange.
And the work being done by the playground committee to ensure it is in pristine shape suggests that Grange is in a strong position to do well in this year’s Tidy Towns competition.