The Abbey Shopping Centre was opened by Val Doonican in 1973
By Sean Collins
A year after the Abbey Ballroom and cinema were gutted by fire in 1969, a local newspaper described the site as “a desolate ruin on the corner of our main street.”
In 1971, the site was acquired by two Armagh brothers, Hugh and Patrick J. Murphy, two experienced developers, who had successful business developments in the UK, and had now decided to invest at home, and provide Drogheda with its first Shopping Centre.
By June of 1973, their plans were well advanced, and the local papers announced the ongoing plans for the new Abbey Shopping Centre.
Local auctioneer Aidan Robinson was appointed sales agent, and all the units were soon taken. A modern 20,000 sq ft supermarket, 20 retail units, twin cinemas and a car park for two hundred vehicles, Drogheda was reaching out to the future with the new shopping centre.
Units were let at £2.00 per square foot and there was an additional 7,000 sq ft of office space above the supermarket.
Johnny Connor advertised for “A Girl” to train in the retail shoe trade for his new shop. Another local businessman remarked that the new centre would “banish the gloom-ridden image so prevalent in the town”.
One week before the official opening the following business premises were advertised. Along with a V.G. Superstore managed by Gus O’Gorman, the twin cinemas were operated by the Anderson Group.
The retailers numbered,
1 The Abbey Tree, 2. Music Fare, 3. Johnny Connor, 4.John McGovern Ltd, 5+6. Chemist, 7. Drogheda Bookshop, 8. House of Lights, 9. Handson Boutique, 10. Car Care, 11. Alcare Sports, 12. Brighter Homes, 13. Allied Stationers, 14. Do-It Yourself Centre, 15. The Carpet Supermarket, 16. Desmond Walsh Ltd, 17. Mildred’s Restaurant, 18. J.S. Electric’s, 19. Daisy a Day.
Many new shops and some established ones expanded to the centre or vacated their old premises altogether. Do you remember them all?
The centre developed by Murphys employed a large group of local labour in it’s construction, supervised expertly by local man Gerry O’Brien. Many new jobs, particularly for women, were created in the retail outlets, it was a win-win situation for the town.
On Friday 9th November 1973, just in time for Christmas, the new centre was formally opened by BBC Celebrity and Waterford native, Val Doonican. Miss VG, Maria Kennedy arrived in a Rolls Royce, joined Val and the Mayor Peter Moore. Val cut the white ribbon and the new shopping centre was declared open.
A fair ground organ was playing in the car park [ an eighty key Mortier, made in Holland in 1905] , and hundreds of locals passed through the centre on the opening day, which created a carnival atmosphere in the town.
Everybody was happy, Fred Morgan presented Val with a life membership of Baltray Golf Club, Aidan Robinson presented the Murphy Bos with Waterford Crystal and they presented the Mayor with a silver cigarette case.
The House of Lights with branches in Talbot St, Camden St., Finglas and Raheny was now in Drogheda, managed by Mrs. Bernie Skinner.
Sadie and Alan Roberts fulfilled their three- year dream of giving Drogheda an independent bookshop, I bought a copy of Dan Breen’s Fight for Irish Freedom there and I still have it.
Tommy Leddy expanded with Music Fare managed by Brian Leahy, they had a special buy an L.P. and get one free offer on the opening day. Pat Finnegan from Collon managed the D.I.Y. Centre. Antoinette Somers from the Cord Rd., worked at the Allied Stationery of which Brian Leech was a director.
Seamus McQuillan, a Clogherhead man and John Fogarty opened the electrical store. Derek Alwright leased the Abbey Tree. Johnny Connor advertised “Vulcanised Boots” from Donagheys – I wonder did Mr.Spock shop there? Desmond Walsh a furniture retailer in the town, opened two stores.
Mildred Flynn, a native of the town, who had grown up in the U.S.A. and recently returned opened with the support of her family, opened “Mildred’s Colonial Style Restaurant.”
More than any other enterprise in the new centre, Mildred’s brought a new excitement to the Drogheda retail scene. We all became familiar with exotic American things such as coleslaw, Big Black Cows, Hotcakes which we had always called pancakes, strawberry shortbread, Bacon-Cheese Burgers, Kona Coffee and the Ice-cream fountain. Lollipops for good children, though Kate would often give you one, and our very own little Brigid Flynn.
The day of the official opening day was a wet one and, with the large crowds, the sloped main hallway soon became as slippery as an ice rink. I was on crutches having tripped over the litter bin outside Jemmy McCabe’s in Duleek Street and broken my leg.
I managed to get into Mildred’s and the high stools at the counter were perfect for my gammy leg, and I enjoyed my first Coke Float with a hot turkey sandwich, heaven, I can still taste it, an ice-cream oasis in a desert of mediocrity!
The apple-pies were made by Bredeen Finnegan of Patrick Street and Turlough McKevitt, an up-and-coming young local architect designed the restaurant, I am sure the gingham influences came from Mildred.
Thanks for the memories, Mildred, Kate and Brigid!
