30/09/2021
In 1896, my great grandfather George Haughey, a farmer from Bushfoot and his new wife, Mary Ann McPeake acquired a site on Ann Street and built a new shop and house. My great grandmother Mary Ann was already a partner in her family drapery shop in Castle Street which had passed from her grandmother Mary Robinson.
The business was continued by my grandmother Mary White followed by her daughter, my aunt Mary Thomson.
Danny and I moved back to Ballycastle in 1984 when aunt Mary retired and we improved and extended the Victorian premises. It is now time for us to retire.
So after six generations of shopkeeping and 125 years in the ‘new shop’, we closed the doors today for the last time.
We would like to thank all the people of Ballycastle and the surrounding district for supporting our business over the years.
The first photo is the staff from 125 years ago. As there was no ready made clothing, just made-to-measure, some of these ladies would have worked as in-shop dressmakers and milliners. Unfortunately, we have no record of their names.
The second photo is of the Haughey family. The little girl is my grandmother,
The third photo was taken in 1993 following the renovation and extension. It includes our four children, Garth, Chris, Aaron and Amy along with our friend Eileen Kennedy who worked in the shop for over 25 years and is sadly missed.
The fourth photo is our last day 30/9/21.
