Couple 'pay it forward' in house project

Retailers and business leaders are continually trying to impress upon cash-conscious consumers the importance of spending what money they have locally to help sustain employment in their own communities. It's a call that has a particular resonance at Christmas time but is relevant all year round as businesses battle to keep their doors open in the teeth of the recession. One local couple, however, have taken the 'shop local' mantra one step further by insisting everything for their new home was purchased 'at home'. Finbarr and Linda Murray always wanted the 'dream' of a house in the country. So, towards the end of 2010 when they spotted a cottage in Kilmessan on the market for €100,000 on just under one acre, they knew their search had ended. "We both fell in love with how it looked on the web and arranged to view it the next day with Smith Harrington Auctioneers. I remember asking Judy, the estate agent, when we entered the house did the heat work and she replied that it was on - I could see my breath!" said Linda. As cold as it was, though, Linda said they could see it had great character. The house was over 140 years-old, had three small bedrooms, a galley kitchen, a living room and a dining room. They put in an offer, which was accepted, and the Murrays got their keys on 4th February last year. As local business-owners, and with both of their families being from Navan - and her own family, the Nelsons, having been in the furniture business in the town for the past 45 years - it was decided from the outset that everything for the house would come from either Navan or Meath and they were determined to shop local throughout the project. It became evident early on that the house was not insulated, was quite damp and would need both floors (downstairs and upstairs) taken out. A mortgage proved impossible to get to begin the work but St Mary's Credit Union in Navan provided a loan which, added to their savings, meant they could begin. To read the full story, see this week's Meath Chronicle.