This article is from page 27 of the 2007-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
THE closure of four well-known businesses in the seaside town of Kilkee has been described as a co- incident and is not a reflection on the prosperity of the town.
The proprietors of the four estab- lished businesses closed their doors for the last time last week for per- sonal reasons.
One of the businesses that are no longer in operation is Nolan’s Butch- er’s. The family butchers served the people of Kilkee for five genera- ao els
This was one of two family busi- nesses on O’Curry’s Street to close on that fateful weekend.
Collins’ Pharmacy also closed leav- ing the seaside town with only one pharmacy.
Meehan’s Bakery on the Strand Line ceased selling fresh breads and cakes and closed its doors.
Kilkee was also left with just one petrol station following the closure of Dough Motors on the Kilrush Road.
Known locally as Burke’s garage the closure means that the west Clare peninsula has now just two filling stations – one in Kilkee and the old
Bella Creamery between Cross and Carrigaholt.
Kilkee Chamber of Commerce spokesman John Willliams describe the four closures as sad but co-inci- dental.
“None of them closed due to a lack of prosperity in the town. In the four cases they closed for personal cir- cumstances, it was just a co-incident that they all came together,” he said.
“It is like any other town. Places are closing down and opening up.”
The Kilkee pharmacist was also upbeat about the summer seasons, despite the rain.
“It wasn’t the best of season, but it wasn’t he worst of seasons either. Kilkee has a traditional following, and the same people return every year,’ he said.
Mr Williams said it was also hard to judge if the late change in the weather for the better meant a more boisterous September than usual.
He said the Cois Fhairraige festival brought more than 4,500 people to the town and an added boost to the local economy.
This added to the local population significantly for the past week and it was therefore hard to judge what 1m-