'Shopping in Nevilles was a social highlight: Youghal business celebrating 80 years in the town

When Nevilles shop, a cornerstone of North Main Street, Youghal celebrated a remarkable milestone this month; marking 80 years in business, messages and recollections of lovely memories, from people near and far, came thick and fast.

“Our 80th anniversary was on November 1, Dad’s birthday!” says Pauline Neville, marvelling at the happy coincidence.

Nevilles has always been a sociable place for a friendly chat.

“We got one message from a man in the States that we had a good laugh over,” says Pauline, who runs the drapery shop with her sister, Ann, specialising in ladies and men’s fashion, childrenswear, household textiles, school uniforms, and personalised embroidery.

What was the cause of such merriment when the 80th anniversary celebrations were in full swing?

“The man calling us from the USA, told us that he remembered his mother bringing him into Nevilles shop to get fitted out for his First Communion suit,” says Pauline, who is also an artist of note.

“He said that he remembered he was in his underwear in the middle of the floor, no such thing as a changing room or any privacy, while various trousers and jackets were brought to his mother for her perusal.”

The man, now a grandfather, who felt he had to contact the Neville sisters to congratulate them on the occasion of their 80th anniversary, remembered something else.

“All the women in the shop, including your mother and my mother, were standing around chatting and smoking cigarettes!”

Pauline and Ann exchange looks and winks that suggest that this really was the case.

“Back in the day when Fair Day was on the Green, Fairfield, across the road, we’d have lots of women shopping in town that day and they would often sit on a chair outside the shop counter and have a chat and a laugh together,” says Ann.

“For a lot of people, shopping in Nevilles was a social highlight. On Fair Days the men would treat their wives to a new dress or skirt. That caused great excitement!

“Everyone put in their twopence-halfpenny making a choice of purchase in bygone days. We all had our opinion in the style of dress and what would look well and what would go with a chosen outfit. We were in our element!”

Everyone engaged in the hub of social activity.

“Gossip was never a thing,” says Ann.

“The local women genuinely wanted to have a good chat with each other about all the happenings around that time and about members of their families; where they were, what they were doing.

“That hasn’t changed much up to the present day.”

Some things have changed.

“Sometimes the mothers might leave their child outside the shop in the buggy while they went next door,” says Ann.

“They would ask us to keep an eye on the child and we duly obliged. That wouldn’t happen now!”

The enthusiastic shoppers enjoyed other things together back in the day.

“A few of the ladies indulged in smoking fags when they were allowed to smoke indoors,” says Ann.

“Fair Day was a day to celebrate, when animals were sold and deals were done,” says Ann.

Another 80th anniversary message divulged that the first stock of oilskins in Nevilles were sought after from the hard-working men of east Cork.

“Mr Power said he got his first oilskins here in the shop from daddy. They lasted forever!”

William Neville was a man of his time.

He was a people person, proud of his profession, and proud of his corner on North Main Street.

“Daddy stocked everything from a thimble to overalls,” says Ann.

“Most of the local men got their work gear here as well as their ‘good’ wear.”

When William Neville purchased on North Main Street in Youghal in 1945; he bought the most expensive shop on the street.

“The premises cost £1,200,” says Ann.

Entering Nevilles is like going back in time.

It has that old-age familiar shop atmosphere where you feel free to browse, and to interact with Ann and Pauline, who take the time to make you feel right at home.

“Over the decades, measurements were taken for curtains, the towels for wedding gifts were purchased, and fashionable outfits were assembled.

“I remember putting lengths of lining for suits together with mam to send to the tailor,” says Pauline.

The sisters have the shop well-laid out with their wares.

And yes! There are two changing rooms to try on the array of fashionable clothes and other lovely apparel.

Going back 80 years, the original wooden floor is still intact, as is the original solid mahogany counter.

“The floor and counter have lasted this long without any major marking or deterioration,” says Ann.

“It is amazing.”

Here, men got fitted out for the good suit, ladies got fitted out for the ‘costume’, or the outfit for the ‘mother of the bride’.

Was William Neville always a draper and a businessman?

“Dad was from farming stock in Ballynoe,” says Ann.

“His wife, Kathleen, was from Leamlara.”

William and Kathleen made a good team.

“They learned the trade together.”

The couple were traditional people.

“Mam and Dad got married in St. Patrick’s Church in Cork and they had their wedding reception in the Metropole Hotel before heading to Dublin on honeymoon,” says Ann.

The Nevilles had five daughters; Bridget, Mary, Bernadette, Ann, and Pauline.

Mary, who sadly passed away age 51 from cancer in 2009, was a born shopkeeper.

“After school, Mary would just drop her sack and head straight to the shop,” says Ann.

“Mary had no interest in school!

“She loved the shop and everything to do with it. The customers loved her. Mary was a born shopkeeper.”

I admire the lovely photograph of Mary hanging up over the shop counter.

Ann and Pauline, like their sister, Mary, are born shopkeepers too.

They do all their buying for the shop together and they know their local customers by their first names.

“Our customers come from Youghal, east Cork, Cork, West Waterford and Tallow.”

The sisters set a good trend.

“The grandchildren of former customers who came here in buggies, now come to shop with their own children!”

Being beside the seaside in sweet Youghal bay, is a great asset for trade.

“When covid happened and people could only travel 5km outside of their own county, everyone headed to the seaside,” says Ann.

“We were really busy!”

Reminiscing about a family business that has lasted 80 years and still going strong, the sisters recall tales of yore.

“Growing up daddy told us all about the film Moby Dick that was made here in the town,” says Ann.

“He told us all about the famous film stars who arrived in Youghal like Gregory Peck. Our neighbour was an extra in the film. That was a big deal!”

It was a big deal when a prize bull destined for sale at Fairfield took a fancy to the shop window on North Main Street.

“The bull escaped from across the road,” says Ann.

“He was finally rounded up!”

The old worlde charm of Nevilles is alive and well.

Why has Nevilles, a cornerstone in North Main Street Youghal, lasted so long?

Ann and Pauline exchange knowing looks.

“It is in our blood.”