New-look business returns!
The reopening of a long-established family business in Rooskey has generated great excitement and positivity over recent weeks.
While McGuire’s of Rooskey has been a landmark premises for decades, the filling station/shop closed in 2011. Now, just over a decade on, the McGuire family have unveiled a magnificent new state-of-the-art premises, featuring fuel and forecourt, a convenience store, bakery and deli, complete with an attractive seating area overlooking the majestic River Shannon.
Poignantly, the renowned business reopened just over a year after the death of Frank McGuire, who first developed the family business after acquiring the property back in 1979.
Now Frank’s grown-up children have realised their late father’s dream…which was to see the business being reopened by the family. Frank’s wife Elizabeth, who is postmistress in Rooskey Post Office, will be joining the venture when the Post Office relocates to McGuire’s in the coming weeks.
The late Frank McGuire purchased the site and property from Tom McNally (RIP) in the late 1970s. Frank established a garage business and later developed a shop on site. Over the years the shop was extended and a deli was added. The opening of the Rooskey-Dromod bypass in 2007 had a negative impact on a number of businesses and in 2011 the decision was taken to close.
Although in ill health in latter years, it was always Frank McGuire’s hope and ambition that the family business would be reopened. Now his dream has been realised by his family. Frank’s sons Francis and John have driven the project over the past year, assisted by their sister, Eilis. (Their sister, Michelle, is living in Barcelona and eagerly awaits updates on the family WhatsApp!).
The decision to take on the venture was a huge one. Francis was settled in Norway, where he had been living for seven years. After many family discussions, he made the life-changing decision to return home and embrace this venture.
“I sold my car, my boat, all my belongings in Norway, and came home in March of 2021” Francis said this week. While Francis had been working as a plumber and John as a panel beater, they say they had no idea how to go about rebuilding the business, effectively from scratch.
As it turns out, the brothers did much of the construction work themselves, with the project getting bigger and bigger as the months went by!
Initially, the intention was merely to reopen the pumps, along with a carwash service. Then they decided to add a small shop. As time went by, they made the shop much bigger than originally planned, adding a deli, bakery and seating area.
Now, a beautiful 240 sq. metre convenience store stands proudly as testament to their hard work and determination. The shop, deli (which is open from 7 am to 3 pm, serving breakfast and lunch) and bakery are all proving extremely popular. McGuire’s also sells coal, gas, briquettes (and provides a delivery service).
Wheelchair-accessible, the business has the advantage of excellent parking facilities (including for lorries) and is already proving to be a popular stop-off point for passing traffic and locals.
It’s a wonderful, exciting new era for McGuire’s of Rooskey!
