'I can't see it being saved': Final cut nears as The Baldy Barber to close

CORK city’s oldest and most iconic barbershop is nearing the end of an era following heartbreaking news of its pending closure.

Mick Moriarty is preparing to put The Baldy Barber up for sale in the coming days. His decision comes just weeks ahead of its 87th anniversary.

“When you are awake at 2am in the morning worrying, it’s frightening, but I’m lucky to have the support of my staff,” Mick told The Echo.

“I have two people who have been coming into the shop for over 80 years which is heartbreaking. My staff told me not to be upset and they wouldn’t blame me if I have to sell this place. That was last October.

“They told me this, even though it meant losing their jobs. When you are hearing this from your own staff, you know it’s the right time to sell.

“I’m organising everything with the auctioneer at the moment and we’re expecting to have the for-sale sign up next week.

“My hope is that a hairdresser will buy it and live above the shop.”

The business in Blackpool village had been struggling to survive due to a significant loss of income in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Mr Moriarty said the real challenge was competing with barbers operating within the black market.

Mr Moriarty laments that revenue at his barbershop dropped by 40% last year.

He said he knew the time would come to shut his doors.

However, he had hoped to reach 90 years in business, as a tribute to his late father - the previous owner of the barbershop - Peter Moriarty.

The shop was originally located in Merchant’s Quay and dates as far back as 1937.

Peter had worked there with his brother Michael [Mick’s uncle] during that period.

This year will mark Mick’s 58th - and last - year in business.

Mr Moriarty said it would take a miracle to save the Cork barbershop at this point.

“I can’t see it being saved,” he said. "I would need €15k for that to happen — which is a lot of money for a small business.

“I’m very lucky to have had fantastic, loyal customers.

“However, young people have moved on.

“A lot of them will look for spots and sponsorship from you, but they forget to come back and support you.

“It’s the same with pubs.

“I have heard a lot of people talking about pubs that could be closing shortly,” he added.

Mr Moriarty said that some barbershops are raising their prices to compensate for reduced clientele.

“It’s very hard to beat the black market now,” he added. “That has destroyed so much.

“We charge €16 per haircut, including €1.90 VAT. Other barbers are charging an average of €20 for a haircut. I know of one place that is charging €27.

“I always said that I would never overcharge a customer, which was part of my reason for closing.”

Mick is known for supporting many of his customers through times of hardship.

“I recently dealt with a customer who had fallen on hard times. He was roaring crying.

“I told him that he didn’t have to pay and he could always come back to me when he had a bit of work. That’s just the kind of place we are.”

The Cork man pledged to honour any vouchers sold to customers at his barbershop.

“There weren’t too many vouchers, but I will honour every single one of them.

“The shop will take a while to sell so we still have that time.”

The Baldy Barber has been at the centre of headlines for decades and went viral in 2017 for an inspiring act of kindness.

Fox News, in the U.S, even covered the story of how barber Donncha O’Connell cut the hair of non-verbal teen Evan O’Dwyer in the car to ease his anxiety around the barber’s chair.