Midleton business owner: ‘With a lot of help and support we are looking forward to Christmas’

THERE is a sign up on the window of Wallis’ Bar in Main Street Midleton. ‘When it rains, look for rainbows; when it’s dark; look for stars.’

The stars descended and came out in force to help the town of Midleton get back on its feet after Storm Babet, on October 18.

“We are back as normal,” says Angela Hennessy.

She is somewhat of a celebrity in the town of Midleton running the corner shop with her husband, Dave, for 34 years.

“Midleton’s favourite corner shop is up and running again,” says Angela.

“We didn’t close even during the pandemic. And we bounced back relatively soon after the floods. We are thrilled, and our customers are all thrilled.”

Regular customer Margaret Ryan is happy to be back shopping with her friends again.

“I missed the social side of the shop so much when it was closed due to the flooding,” says Margaret.

Catching up and having the chat with Angela and Dave was always part of my day.

The power of the people helped Angela and Dave open again for business.

“We were a lot luckier than most, opening the Friday after the floods. There was so much goodwill around,” says Angela.

“The students from across the road in Midleton College were a great help to us. Young people are great.”

Husband and wife team Damien and Lara O’Brien are grateful that Fox & Co and Flamingo Boutique are back open for business.

Damien owner of menswear shop Fox & Co, said: “I was in Cobh that Wednesday and got here in the afternoon as the drama unfolded.

“Lara and I both love our jobs. We have a loyal customer base here in the men’s shop and in Flamingo, Lara’s boutique, in Connolly Street.

“We were coming up to our busiest period and all our Christmas stock was in. We tried to blockade the water with sandbags, but it was futile,” says Damien.

Meanwhile, Connolly Street was awash with water and Lara and her staff had to vacate the premises.

“It was raining all day, but we never thought it would cause such flooding,” says Lara.

On Thursday morning, people rowed in to help the couple get up and running again.

“Staff members came in and previous staff members turned up to help,” says Damien, who also works as an engineer.

Customers, friends and family all offered to help. 

One customer who owns a van came in and asked ‘how can I help?’ His wife and nieces came with him. We had one whole family in our door to help. The amount of volunteers was overwhelming.”

Like the pied piper, more people followed down the street to give a helping hand.

“The guys from the rugby club who should be training came along,” says Damien.

“They just came anyway. People arrived with food and drink for us. More help arrived to fill up the skip outside the door. All the businesspeople helped each other.

“Our suppliers gave us a window to delay payment for new stock. Two weeks later, we were back in business flying on one wing.

Yes, we have certain battle scars, but our customers accept that, and they understand. We need that support, and we know we’ll get it.

Next door, Farrells Butchers know what we want at this time of year.

“We have Christmas dinner all sorted,” says Paul O’Neill.

He is full of Christmas cheer after all the help himself and his partner, Mark Kennedy, got to open at 19, Main Street once more.

“We are catering for families with turkey and ham deals for families, for couples, for people on their own - we even have recipes on offer!”

Could they go one better and cook the turkey and ham maybe?

“That might be going a step too far!” says Paul, who has regained his good humour after the carnage of the floods.

The master butchers suffered big losses due to the huge rainfall two months ago.

“There was €40,000 to €50 000 worth of damage done,” says Paul.

A huge clean-up went into operation, Family, friends, and students gave us huge support, as did the community in general. Christmas is looking good!

Down the road, Sonya Neville, manager of Cummins Sports, could have had a new job in the new year.

“I asked the firefighter who rescued me if they were recruiting for the new year!” says Sonya, laughing.

“I thought Cummins Sports would never re-open. I came back to the shop at lunchtime, and the shoes were floating all over the floor.

“ The water was coming in the front and back door and dirty water was splurging up from the toilet. We knew trying to keep the water away, we were fighting a losing battle.

“We saved some of the clothing, moving it upstairs, but we didn’t save some of the cars outside in the car park.

“Our boss came down from Cork and told us we’d have to go. Firefighters came and helped us get out and up the road, away from the floods.”

Next day, a deluge of helpers descended on the sports shop.

“There were so many helpers,” says Sonya.

The school kids who came to help were outstanding.

Her husband, Paudie Dineen was also outstanding.

“Ah Yes, Paudie showed up to help out,” says Sonya.

“The spirit and goodwill of everyone was phenomenal. When we opened again after 13 days, people said, ‘we’re so glad you’re back’.

“There is still a lot of cleaning to be done out back, and shelves must be replaced, but we’re nearly there. It’s great to be back.”

It’s also great Sonya didn’t have to apply for a new job.

“I’m 25 years with the company and in this store 10 years,” says Sonya. “I love it.”

She added: “We have bounced back better than ever!”

Across the street, Nicky and Shane Quill of Owenacurra Pharmacy are glad to have bounced back for their customers.

“We are an independent pharmacy, and we employ 25 staff,” says Nicky.

The couple rushed down to Midleton from Carrigtwohill when they heard they were underwater.

“We were in Carrigtwohill with our son who was getting his Junior Cert results,” says Nicky.

The good news of exam success was buried under the deluge of water that came into the pharmacy.

“We tried to stem the flow,” says Nicky. “But we were fighting a losing battle. We were able to exit from the back door.”

The extent of the flood damage was apparent next day.

“Our stock, our fixtures and fittings were destroyed,” says Nicky. “We only had a re-fit three years ago.”

It was a case of all hands on deck.

“The staff came to help. IT specialists arrived to reconnect computers and phones,” says Nicky.

“We had loads of offers of help. We couldn’t accept any offers of help from neighbours or friends because we have drugs on site.

“Luckily, we have a sizable team and they all showed up. People are so good.

We had loans of dehumidifiers and liquid hoovers. Local clubs dropped off cakes and coffee.

“The local people were out of this world at a difficult time. Being open for business is so great. It shows the power of the community.”

It’s a kind of magic.

“There is a bit of magic about Midleton!”, says Nicky.

There’s a bit of magic about Sage. The lure of coffee and the mouth-watering chocolate brick is hard to resist at Christmas, or any time.

Kevin Aherne, who is back open for business after being ‘flushed out’, has lots to lure us in.

“This year we’re offering Christmas at Home,” says Kevin.

“It is a takeaway three course Christmas dinner cooked by a top chef.”

Have all my Christmases come together?

Kevin laughs.

“Well, it could be a great opportunity to put your feet up on Christmas morning because the hard work in the kitchen is already done and dusted.

“You’ll have a stress-free Christmas.”

Kevin was stressed when his livelihood, Sage, was flooded.

“There were a lot of late nights spent cleaning and re-arranging,” says Kevin.

November is traditionally a difficult month for business, it is usually quiet. So it was tricky to get going again after the floods.

“But with a lot of help and support, we’re looking forward to the Christmas season.

“I think a lot of people will shop local this Christmas and buy vouchers from restaurants and small shops, which is great.”

Kevin will be busy at home and at work.

“We have a four-year-old and a six-year old,” he says.

“It’s a busy household.”

Will he be cooking on Christmas Day?

“Probably!” says Kevin.

He is just glad Sage is open again for business.

Hopefully, this year all his Christmases will come together.