Doors close on Mountnugent drapery store

Sean McMahon

Change inevitably comes in all spheres of life, sometimes for the better, but many times... one would wonder. Upon setting foot in Magee’s drapery shop in Mountunugent last Saturday afternoon, I was immediately transported back through the decades to great memories of shopping in similar stores in Belturbet in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Ladies busily searched through the racks for something to fit, maybe partly as a keepsake of their fond decades of shopping in Magee’s.
Saturday evening was tinged with sadness as owner Sinead Magee said goodbye to her loyal customers and lifelong friends, who had purchased communion and conformation outfits for their families, the dress for a wedding or the uniforms for school.
Magee’s Drapery Business first opened its door in Mountnugent in April, 1959 with Patsy and May Magee at the helm.
“It was opened by my parents,' Sinead Magee told The Anglo-Celt. 'My mother actually came out from Ballyjamesduff to be Post Mistress here.
“At times there were five and six of us working here. I was only a child running around here in the 1970s – the ’80s and ’90s were very busy. Even up to the present, it was not lack of business that made my mind up to close the business.
“We were holding our own here, I just felt that I wanted a change – I have been here in the shop 31 years,” explained Sinead Magee.
As if to illustrate the point, on Saturday morning three people staying in Crover House, came in and bought some items of clothing. Last weekend was more about saying farewell to the local landmark rather than labouring the till.
Whilst women dominated on the day the Celt arrived, traditionally men would travel from near and far to purchase their suits in Magee’s, and a good pair of working boots.
Bridie Boylan from Drumgimmon, Mountnugent who worked in Magee’s back in the 1970s, popped in to reminice.
“This was the shop – they came from far and near here. Sinead’s father Patsy did all the suits for men and Mrs Magee looked after the ladies. This shop would be thronged on the Friday.
“Then they started to do the school uniforms and that was a big thing. There was bedding and curtains – you got everything here – then the farmer got his boots and wellingtons ”.
Sinead is married to Hugh O’Reilly and the couple have two daughters, Blanaid and Caoimhe and son Brian Patrick.
Customers were coming in all week with cards and wishing Sinead all the best for future.
“Thank God, I have loads of lovely friends – as I do say friends/customers,” says the affable Sinead and breaks into laughter, “here’s my cousin coming in here now.”