Opportunity knocks on door of new shop as Tánaiste performs official opening

They say you should never waste a genuine opportunity, in life or in politics, and last week in Macroom, both Nickie Cohalan and Tánaiste Simon Harris grabbed their moment when it presented itself.

Mr Harris was on walkabout on a chilly afternoon in the town that never reared a fool, having just opened Fine Gael senator Eileen Lynch’s new constituency office, when he called into Juniper Lane, Nickie’s brand-new lifestyle and leisure shop on the main street.

When Nickie told him it was her first day trading in the shop, between them they hit on the idea that the once-and-presumably-future taoiseach might perform the official opening there too.

Hardly surprisingly, there was a pair of scissors and a length of ribbon to hand, and a handy spad (special adviser) from Government Information Services to take the picture.

Nickie told The Echo she had been making jewellery since she was a child, and that evolved into making hats, while her love of fabrics led to her making lampshades from imported, hand-blocked cotton.

“It’s all sustainable and environmentally friendly,” she said. “I sell jewellery, hats, headpieces, unique and different curated pieces from around the world, and I make a lot of the pieces myself.”

Availing of advice from Cork County Council and a Government vacant properties refurbishment grant, she and her husband Jerome renovated the former Hole In The Wall pub, which had been vacant for 17 years.

It is now an independent shop with an upstairs apartment.

Later, down the street and over sandwiches in the mercifully warm Murray’s, Ms Lynch’s uncle’s bar, Mr Harris said it was one thing to “sit in offices in Dublin” announcing grants to tackle dereliction and vacancy, but it was another to see the effects of those schemes.

“A derelict old pub has now been converted into a shop by an incredible woman, Nickie, who was running an online business for the last few years, selling handmade goods,” said Mr Harris.

“It’s very nice when you come to a bustling market town like Macroom to see the benefit of those grants that we announce up in Dublin making a real difference.”