End of an era as Carrick-on-Suir electrical store closes after 69 years in business

Carrick-on-Suir town centre has lost one of its longest running and most highly regarded retailers – Butler Electrical - following the retirement of its owner Jim Butler after over 50 years service in the store founded by his father.

The town’s last remaining electrical goods shop, located at 37 Main Street closed its doors on Friday, April 25 bringing to an end a family-run business that had served the people of the town and its wide hinterland for 69 years.

Jim was very touched by the number of customers of all ages who called to his shop in its final days to wish him well on his retirement from the business.

He said meeting and chatting with customers in the shop every day was what he loved most about his work. “I enjoyed meeting people and we had great and very loyal customers,” he told The Nationalist.

Butler Electrical was founded by his father Christy in 1955.

The business was originally located in another premises further down Main Street and was one of several electrical stores in the town for many years.

“There was Bourke’s and Pat Drohan’s stores and a few TV shops. We lasted the longest,” he said.

Jim started working in the family business in 1973 at the age of 17 and his three siblings also worked in the shop at various stages over the years.

He took over the running of the store following his father’s death in the late 1980s.

He has lived through huge changes in the electrical goods trade over the past half century due to the massive advances in technology and mass production of these products that has greatly reduced their cost to consumers.

“I remember when the price of a television was the same as a Prinz car. People used to rent a television because they couldn’t afford to buy one,” Jim recalled.

Jim has been a prominent member of Carrick-on-Suir Business Association since its foundation two decades ago and the Association’s members presented him with a retirement gift of a bodhran with a clock inserted in its centre on his final day.

It was a very appropriate gift as Jim is a nephew of the famous Clancy Brothers folk singers and loves singing and enjoys pub music sessions.

Seamus Campbell of Carrick-on-Suir Business Association said Jim will be greatly missed from the Association’s committee.

“He has been involved in COSBA since the association started nearly 20 years ago.

He was ever present on the committee and was always there to help when it was needed. Jim always fought his corner and always stood up for what he believed.”

Mr Campbell paid tribute to Jim for the huge work he put into organising Carrick town centre’s Christmas lights. “There is a lot of work involved with the Christmas lights and he organised the whole thing.”

He also praised Jim’s work with organising the town’s annual Clancy Brothers Music & Arts Festival that celebrates the music legacy of his uncles. Jim chaired the Festival’s committee for several years.

Jim, meanwhile, is looking forward to enjoying some well-earned holiday breaks after bidding farewell to his shop.

He points out that Butler Electrical’s premises will soon get a new lease of life as it’s to be the new home of My Dress Bridal Wear shop that is currently based at Chapel Street opposite St Nicholas Church.

He said he wished to thank all his customers for their great loyalty to Butler Electrical over decades.

“People say they will miss us. It’s sad for them that the electrical shop is gone but times just move on.”

Pictured below: Seamus Campbell of Carrick-on-Suir Business Association (right) presents a retirement gift of a bodhran clock to Jim Butler. Pictures Anne Marie Magorrian