'When I think back, I don't know how I did it, I got the strength from somewhere'

There is a crossroads in Newcastle, Moynalty that will feel a little emptier this week as, after 40 years behind the counter, Mary Lynch is closing the door of the shop for the final time.

For four decades, Lynch's shop was the heart of the community – a place for the few bits and a bit of news and craic as well. It was in March 1987, after tragedy struck the Lynch family that it became not just Mary’s livelihood but her lifeline.

On 4th March of that year just two years after opening the shop, her husband Patsy died in a farming accident, leaving Mary with four young children aged 12, 11, 8, and 4 and a new business to run. There was no time to think, the farm machinery would be auctioned, and the suppliers would be at the door the following week.

It was a moment beyond imagining, it seemed an impossible task but Mary originally from the Carlow/Laois border showed that it could be done. With the help of Ann Gargan for the first seven years, and then Josephine Daly up until last week they ran the show with a sense of humour and an energy that recharged everyone who came through the door. But importantly it was those people who came through the door who also kept the show on the road.

Last Saturday, there was a gathering at the crossroads, not just to mark the closing of a shop but to celebrate a remarkable woman who turned despair into determination, and duty into something joyful.

“My husband was a shop man, his family had a shop down the road from here and all of his brothers and sisters worked there so he said we'll open a shop and I said ‘yeah, do you know what we will,’” said Mary.

“It was the best decision we ever made but then he didn't get to stay too long,” she added.

“That was a busy time but having the shop helped me through everything, I didn't have time to think, I had a family to rear and a shop to run. I often thought I was running away from it but it was a great distraction.

“I believe Patsy helped me from wherever he is. When I think back, I don't know how I did it, I got the strength from somewhere.”

Mary has fond memories of mass goers congregating outside the shop on a Sunday morning before the service in Newcastle was swapped for a Saturday evening one instead a number of years ago.

“People would come in Sunday morning after Mass and they would be chatting and talking, it was a social thing more than anything else,” remembers Mary.

“Mass would be at 10.30am and I'd close the shop at 1pm and there would still be people outside talking,” she added.

“When Sunday Mass finished that was a big set back, it took away that social element and it affected business, people were disappointed because they would stand outside the church and talk and chat.”

Having her home next to the shop meant Mary often multi-tasked while on duty as she explains:

“I would be popping in and out to the kitchen and baking apple tarts, brown bread and Christmas puddings that I would sell in the shop. There was great camaraderie with the customers, having the craic and the usual auld chat that goes on.

“We had a bell on the door which would do our heads in a lot of the time and I'd shout I'm coming, I'm on the way I could be down in the garden or something and I'd hear the bell and I'd be running up to serve a customer!

Even during the dark days of Covid, Lynch's shop provided some light to locals.

“During Covid we were very busy, we served people from the door and one day to maintain distance, I got the handle of the brush and used it to hand the shopping out to customers, we got a great kick out of that!

Testament as to how much Mary touched the lives of the community was also seen last week when students from St Anne’s National School Maio walked to the shop and back describing it as “a little journey to say a big thank you.”

In a social media post, the school said:”Mary and her family have given 40 years of warm, generous service to local families and we couldn’t let the moment pass without showing our appreciation.

“We presented Mary with flowers and cards made by the children, a small token of our heartfelt gratitude for her kindness and support to our local school community over the years.

“Thank you, Mary – you’ll always hold a special place in our hearts. Enjoy putting away the alarm clock and make sure you cross off every item on your bucket list in the coming years.”

Speaking about the gesture, Mary said:

“I didn't know what was happening and walked out and saw all these little hi-vis jackets, I went to a big cheer and they gave me a big bouquet of flowers and cards they made, it was fantastic. I said I would treat them but they said no, they all had a fiver with them and they wanted to spend their money with me for the last time.”

The Moynalty woman said although she is sad to say goodbye to her customers she is looking forward to new adventures.

“When you are in the shop you are tied but I will be free to do anything I want to do now, in saying that I won't be doing anything major just spending more time with friends and family. I had lots of people coming and going over the last couple of weeks wishing me well.

“I'd like to thank the community for all of their support throughout the years, I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. They are the reason I kept going.”