Tag Archives: The New Shop

ON A recent trip to New York, Tulla native Seán Fitzgerald recalled a piece of Tulla’s social history that was in danger of vanishing into the mists to time. The retired school principal from Knockjames, who now lives in Edenderry, County Offaly, was on a visit to his aunt, Eileen McNamara (née Dooley) when she recited a poem composed by the owners of ‘The New Shop’ in the middle of the last century. Now SuperValu, the New Shop operated on Main Street from the 1940s to the ‘60s.    “Like some local shops of that era, it served as a pub too and you do could then do your grocery shopping after having a few pints,” Seán said. The proprietors of the shop, who were forward thinking and modernised their shop  to the point of having a cold room installed for meat storage.   “By way of advertising the latest technology, the owners composed, displayed and promoted a little ditty,” …

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