Tag Archives: Gwen Culligan

WITH restrictions having been relaxed from last Saturday morning, suddenly people were given more freedom than they have seen in almost two years. It should mark the beginning of a positive spring season for Clare retailers, with Covid fears presumably set to fall along with the risk of infection. Gwen Culligan, proprietor of the County Boutique on O’Connell Street in in Ennis said things are finally looking up. “Yes, we are looking forward to a good season ahead, it’s all very positive and we’re looking forward to better times,” she told The Champion. It was only on Friday evening, January 21, that people found out the restrictions would be gone the following morning, and she said the Saturday, generally the busiest shopping day of the week, wasn’t unusually hectic, but given the time of year that wouldn’t have been unexpected. “We were busy, but this time of year would be a quieter time for us anyway. People will mostly be …

OVERWHELMING loyalty from Christmas shoppers has given retailers a badly-needed boost, as the sector braces for further restrictions. While non-essential outlets face another period of uncertainty as Covid cases rise, shop owners have thanked people for making a concerted effort to support them in the month of December. Tina Grogan from Bambino in Ennis said it was very apparent that people made a conscious decision to back local retailers. “It has been so touching and the support coming up to Christmas was phenomenal,” she said. “It was really obvious that people were making an effort to shop local and, after the year that’s been in it, it was almost overwhelming to see.” At the County Boutique, Gwen Culligan described the support as “unbelievable”. “We were just blown away by it,” said the former President of Ennis Chamber of Commerce. “We did brilliant business. Our customers came back to us and it was clear they were determined to give their support.” …

THE personalised, customer-focused shopping experience that has become synonymous with the town of Ennis is still continuing despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic has resulted in retail closures throughout the county, with businesses increasingly focusing their efforts online in a bid to meet these new unprecedented challenges. The last few weeks have highlighted the importance of having an online shopping presence, according to Gwen Culligan of the County Boutique in Ennis. While Patrick Burke’s is set to launch a personal shopping service utilising popular apps so people can purchase while still maintaining social distancing. The County Boutique launched its website last year allowing people to buy the latest looks from the comfort of their own home. Gwen tells us they were “incredibly lucky” to already be online when the Covid-19 restrictions were introduced. “We’re selling every day at the moment. I had been spending some time over the last few months putting things on the site, but I’ve been …

2019 is not a bad time to become president of Ennis Chamber, as Gwen Culligan is doing, with the town’s economy in a relatively sweet spot, while still strengthening and improving. Gwen is co-owner of the County Boutique on O’Connell Street, with her sister Maeve Flouch, and it is a family business that goes back to the 1960s. The business was a huge part of Gwen’s childhood. “Our playground was O’Connell Street. After school, at lunchtime from school and whatever, we’d be there. I’m from Clon Road, so we’re real townies,” she laughs. Her mother worked in the business right up until her death in 2005. Gwen was away for a number of years working in AIB but has been in the shop for around 30 years now, placing her at the heart of Ennis commerce. She has also been active in the chamber for quite a long spell. “I’ve been involved in the chamber on and off for years. …

THE newly-elected president of Ennis Chamber is carrying on a family tradition, having taken on the role previously held by his father more than 40 years ago. At its recent AGM, Ennis Chamber elected Diarmuid McMahon, managing director, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon, as president and Gwen Culligan, co-owner of County Boutique, as vice-president. They will both serve a one-year term in their respective role. Diarmuid will be no stranger to the position, following in the footsteps of his father, Dermot, who served as president of the Chamber for three years, from 1975. The newly-elected president succeeds William Cahir, of Cahir & Co Solicitors, who he congratulated for energising the Chamber during his term. This, in turn, he said, has instilled a positive perception of the work and role of Ennis Chamber among businesses in the town. A qualified chartered accountant, Diarmuid is the fourth generation of McMahons to manage his family business, which has been trading in Ennis since 1900. The …