Nellie’s name lives on in Hore’s family business
WEXFORD TOWN lost a well-known figure of the business community with the passing of 99-year-old Ellen ‘Nellie’ Hore in November 2018.
Nellie, who was a founder and former director of Hore’s Stores department store on Wexford’s main street, passed away on November 16 of last year.
The daughter of Andrew and Bridget Nolan, Nellie was born and educated in New York until she was about 16. In the mid 1930s, her father was left a farm by an old uncle and, though he did not want to move back to Ireland, his wife Bridget did and convinced him to do so.
The family made the tough journey home, which entailed weeks on a boat, and set up home on the farm in Macmine, Bree. Nellie’s father settled into the farming life, running it until retirement in the 1950s. Nellie took up a job in a bakery in Enniscorthy.
In the early 1940s, she met John Hore, who was working in Kelly’s of Cornmarket. On Sundays, John would cycle from Wexford town towards Bree, while Nellie would cycle from Bree towards Wexford town and they would meet on the road along the way.
They were married in 1944 and welcomed their first child, Padraig, in 1945.
Prior to that, the couple had set up their first business, selling second-hand clothes to, primarily, farmers around the Wexford area. Because of World War II, there were clothing shortages but the couple managed to provide good quality, heavy duty, second-hand clothes from a store on Wexford Quay.
Every week, they would drive to Dublin in a van they owned and fill it with stock from various Jewish companies operating in the city. A large majority of the stock was ex-policeman clothing from the UK and army surplus stock.
The early 1940s was a busy time for the couple as, at this time, they also moved their business to a new, permanent home.
The premises on Wexford’s main street had been owned by two elderly ladies who put it on the market. However, before any sale could go through, the roof at the back of the premises collapsed and the couple bought the building at a reduced price.
On May 2, 1945, Hore’s Stores opened its doors for the first time. They continued in the vein of providing second-hand clothing and, as things improved, started to bring in new stock.
For many years, the family lived above the premises so, even when the doors closed, Nellie would be on the shop floor with her husband setting up for the following day while also rearing five children. It was not unusual for the family to hear the doorbell on Sunday afternoons when customers needed items in emergency situations.
John and Nellie had five children: Padraig, John, Martin, Ger and Breda. Tragedy was to visit the family when, in 1971, their only daughter was killed in a car accident that devastated Nellie, who kept Breda in her thoughts and conversations every day thereafter.
Nellie ran the Breda’s section of the business for many years, until her retirement in the late 1970s.
In recent years, she was a resident in Knockeen Nursing Home where she enjoyed regular visits from her sons and was keen to hear everything that was going on in the business. She greatly enjoyed the celebrations held, three years ago, to mark the 70th anniversary of the family business that she and her husband had built. She remained sharp as a button all of her life and was very outspoken, calling a spade a spade.
Nellie is survived by her sons Padraig, John, Martin and Gerard. She is predeceased by her husband John and daughter Breda.
Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a h-ainm.