Pictured: John Doyle with (from left) Ann Bourton, Maureen McCabe and daughter Ciara Doyle on the closing day of the butchers
Doyle Butchers of Pearse Street recently held a reception to say goodbye to longstanding customers.
Tea and coffee and sandwiches were served as locals reminisced about the role the butchers has played in all their lives. Generations of family have patroned the same shop on Pearse Street and John Doyle and his father before him have faithfully served them.
Many changes have occurred on Pearse Street, the closing of another store isn’t new, but hopefully the memories of John and his butchers will remain the same in the minds of his customers as he finally gets to enjoy his retirement.
John Doyle, 71, tells us a little of the history of the shop: “My father started the shop in 1938 and I took it over in 1972 so I’m here a long time. I was born in Sandymount, my mother and father lived on Tritonville Road. It wasn’t really a job, it was a way of life. I had four generations of the one family in the shop a fortnight ago, a great granny, granny, mammy and baby. The area is completely different, we used to have Hammond Lane, the Gasworks, the coal yards, ESB – they’re all gone. And we had a whole row of shops, there’s no shops left on Pearse Street. There’s ourselves, the chemist, the post office – that’s about it.”
Dolores Wilson is a long time customer of the shop. She said: “I used to come here with my mother when I was a kid. When I was a baby she always came here, to John’s father. John is going to be a big loss to this community, he’s not only the butchers, he’s been our friend and colleague for so many years.”
Joan Hayden is also a regular and she added: “I’ll miss them terrible, they’re family. Everyone used to gather here and have a natter, and what have you, you know? Well he’s here 56 years, he was only a boy when he started here. He knows everyone, and everyone’s grand-kids and babies, you name it. The right of it is that businesses are changing and when we don’t adhere to change there will never be progress in the area.”
Betty Ashe also talks about change: “I’ve lived on this street all my life. We went through a very bad 20 years or so, a very dark place but now we’re on the up. Unfortunately there’s casualties of that and John would be a casualty of that regeneration. Unfortunately there’s no one to carry on the mantle. He will be very badly missed because he’s been part of the area for so long, and his father before him.”
Maureen McCabe, who has been working for John for many years, added: “I’ve been working here for 32 years, I’m part of the furniture. I’ve stayed so long because he’s wonderful to work with. When my children were smaller they were able to come into the office and do their homework. It’s a sad day for everyone, employees and the customers, but it comes. Hopefully what will be here next will be progression and better things, for it’s all par for the course.”
By Jessica ellis
