IRELAND'S DISAPPEARING LOCAL SHOPS. There was a time when every community had a shop like this!

A short and sweet video today - I’m in Barrack Street in Cork City centre - I was actually just visiting Elisabeth Fort, when I came across this interesting wee shop - Twomey’s. It reminded me of so many shops that used to exist years ago in Ireland.
A lot of work goes into these videos. You can now buy me a pint as a means of appreciation for my work on Naked Ireland, no obligation, obviously - only if you can afford it... I appreciate it. Cheers.
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Of course it was closed as I was passing by, which was a real shame, the owner had obviously just popped out for a moment. So I thought I was going to have to make do by peering in through the window. Which I did. It just looked like it sold absolutely everything!
Of course I couldn’t resist not going inside so I hung around until it opened….and in I went, into this time capsule. Immediately I was transported back to the 1960’s or 70s. And there was a lovely old lady working there - I presume Mrs Twomey - who I was able to chat to about her lovely shop.
This is what local shops looked like everywhere, before the supermarkets came in the 70s. And these shops provided an essential service to their communities - and obviously house and shop are one and the same.
So I was privileged to be able to have a nice conversation with the lady, who was happy to chat and rightly very proud of her shop.

[@jacquicaffrey6607]

This shop really brought me back to my childhood in Belfast. These house shops were an essential part of the community, amazing!

[@nakedireland]

Many thanks Jacqui.

[@desmcharris]

My heart turned over watching this👍 The combination of your Belfast accent with the Cork lilt drew me back down memories borrieens. On the Glen Road , in front of St Teresa's, is the "Pop". And in Glengarriff, O'Shea's was the best wee shop for everything. Pat the owner, a good friend. Can't stress enough how important these shows are. Thank you.

[@nakedireland]

Remember The Pop well Des.

[@WelshRob1964]

That brings back memories of our old local shop, which had a sub post office too. Buying stuff on the book when I was short, settling up on giro day 😄. Long gone now of course and the other village shop we had, which was a timber shed dating back decades. I remember when I first went to Ireland and using little shops like this one, even on my last time living there I did as much as I could in the local shops, better service too. We are all to blame for their demise alas as we all use supermarkets, another nail in the coffin of the old communities their passing.

[@nakedireland]

You're absolutely right Rob, we're all to blame. And yes, the personal service is something that's been totally lost.

[@patriciacarmenherederojuda6946]

Nice shop in my country, When I was a Child there was a lot of these kind of shops and now the people go to shopping in big areas, it’s a pity.

[@nakedireland]

Yes Patrica, it's a real shame. Thanks for watching.

[@RuePhoto]

Thanks Greg 🙂 I hope it's not too late for these "community" convenience stores. They may be a touch dearer than Aldi / Lidl, but at least you can build a relationship with the owner as they could order items specific to you & the money stays local. Have a great weekend my friend 🤗

[@nakedireland]

Couldn't agree more Rue, I fear there's not many of them left though.

[@doompdx401]

Stopped by the shop today. Lovely woman gave us some of her own washing powder because she didn’t have any to sell.❤ when we told her we saw her on KZbin, she said ‘in America?…I’m a legend…although I already knew that’.

[@nakedireland]

Ha ha that is brilliant!!

[@binflynn1]

Tayto cheese and onion the southern ones brilliant, love you videos regardless of what others think

[@nakedireland]

Many thanks, it's great to have your positive comment - instead of the craziness of the billyo comment below!!!!

[@FritsBeutick]

These shops were absolutely amazing! In the countryside the shops were often combined with other activities like a post office, a petrol pump or a pub. Some shopkeepers were also the local undertakers. I live in Ramelton in co. Donegal and here is the shop of McFadden. They sell absolutely everything and it is a coffeebar as well..

[@nakedireland]

We talk a lot about convenience stores these days, but how convenient must it have been to order a pint, buy a tin of Spam and organise your funeral, all from a bar stool!

[@paulhennessy8372]

Great video try and do some more of this type perhaps old pubs that only locals inhabit 👍

[@nakedireland]

Thanks Paul, that's a great idea - perhaps I'll do that. Thanks for watching.

[@paulhennessy8372]

@@nakedireland Kenny’s bar in Ennis would be a great start shop one side bar the other

[@nakedireland]

⁠That sounds brilliant Paul. I’ll keep that in mind.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

You still see a few of these shops in the West, but they combine a pub and a shop. Examples include Moran’s in Westport and Sloyan’s in Castlebar.

[@nakedireland]

Long may they last.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@@nakedireland I fear that once the owners pass on, there won’t be much call for them, alas. Sad though, as it’s very atmospheric to sit on a beer keg with a leather seat having a sup, in amongst the food shelves and weighing scales!

[@nakedireland]

⁠I know, that’s the reality of it. I get the fact that we all like convenience and modern amenities, but it’d be good to have both. These wee shops/pubs should probably be subsidised - they are part of our heritage after all. Little working museums.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@@nakedireland Indeed. Other aspects of rural life are going too, things like post offices, petrol stations, pubs are all closing up. If it weren’t for the GAA there would hardly be any community life in many country villages any more.

[@nakedireland]

⁠I wonder what the answer is?

[@doompdx401]

Getting a 404 message on the buy me a coffee link in the US

[@nakedireland]

I’ll have a look at that now.

[@nakedireland]

Many thanks for bringing that to my attention - there did indeed seem to be a problem. I've recopied the link and it seems to be working ok now. There is another link at the top of the channel page in case you still have problems, but I think it's fixed.

[@doompdx401]

It works now. I used the one at the top of the channel. I hope Twomeys is open when I visit Cork in May. It would be fund to spend a wad of euros and mention I saw the shop on youtube on my way out the door.

[@nakedireland]

⁠yes, Stephen, I just responded to your generous donation via buymeacoffee. Many thanks for that, it’s so kind and really does help since Naked Ireland is becoming close to a full time job (albeit a largely unpaid one). This helps a lot. Best of luck to you and please keep watching.

[@billyo54]

I really don't see the point in making a video lasting three minutes. Such a subject as old traditional shops deserve half an hour. Are you trying to rip people off or what. There's enough cowboys out there on KZbin. Have a bit of respect for your subjects an your viewers.

[@nakedireland]

Ha ha, you're a laugh Billyo, so how long is your video on the subject of disappearing Irish shops? What? You don't have one? Well, at least I've done something. I'm not ripping anyone off though - it's hilarious that you should say such a ridiculous thing - if you don't like the film, simply don't watch. It doesn't cost you anything to not watch something that you evidently can't find it in yourself to appreciate. As you can see from the other comments, many people enjoy this. But, have a nice day anyway!

[@peter1892]

What a great video & subject! A real time capsule, and I think I spotted a bottle of Tanora in the fridge - well it is Cork after all! So many of these establishments are disappearing across the country so it’s lovely to see this one is still going strong.

[@nakedireland]

awww Peter, so great to have your positivity on this. Yes, it’s a video I genuinely loved making. Great shop, lovely lady proprietor. So nice to be able to document it.

[@desmcharris]

There's plenty of Buck Eejit's out there.

[@nakedireland]

There’s always one Des!