Looking back on 2024: Kathleen looks back on 40 years at Conlon's in Dundalk

The Dundalk Democrat spoke to Kathleen O'Callaghan in August as she celebrated 40 years working in Conlon's Food Hall in Dundalk

“I've been very honoured, they're a great family. They treated me like family and I also treated them accordingly”, says Kathleen O'Callaghan, the first staff member employed by Conlon's back when it opened in 1984. Conlon's Food Hall is this year, celebrating 40 years in business in Dundalk

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, Kathleen reveals she has been with Conlon's “almost 40 years, give or take a few weeks”.

“Peter was a gentleman, and his wife and the children – they call me Mammy”, Kathleen laughs. “So much so, that when I go out on the street now, people would say, 'well Mrs Conlon!”

Speaking about how she began work in Conlon's, Kathleen said that, “Peter and I always worked together. We worked in the Derryhale and the Imperial. He'd take me in and we'd do certain functions or whatever was going on.

“And then I got a job, I was doing lollipop lady, first lollipop lady in the town, I might add! And I was on the road at Bay Estate, and he pulled up in the van and he said to me, 'see you, you go down to the shop tomorrow, you're not working on this road anymore', and that's how I started in Conlon's.”

Reflecting on life working in Conlon's and with the Conlon family, Kathleen says that, “they're a great family. They're so focused and they're so close.

“Mrs Conlon is just great, I was treated very well. I did my work and they rewarded me accordingly.”

On being able to work for so many years with the one business, Kathleen says, “I'm 74. I've been really blessed.

“You get up in the morning and put a bit of face on you, and you're away out to work, sure it's brilliant.

“ And then they don't know me when I go in with the face on me”, she adds laughing.

On the difference between what people were buying years ago and now, Kathleen says that “it's much the same to be honest with you. There would be a few things introduced but it is mostly the same.

“I mean, I'm at the stage now, that I know what that person wants, it's nearly written across their forehead”, she laughs. “When you get to know a person, and we had some absolutely brilliant customers in Church Street. Because they were the older folk, and now their children are all coming in and their grandchildren. That shows you what goes on in a family business. And I think it is because it is a family business.

“A lot of people would say to me, when are you back, what day are you in? They don't mean any disrespect by it, they just want to know when I'm there. And a lot of people say, 'it's just great when you look in and see you there, you think of Peter and you think of the olden days', a lot of those customers have gone now, God rest them. But their children are coming in, their grand children are coming in. That's the way it is. It's great that.”

Family is important to Kathleen, both her own, and the Conlon family. “Every single one of them, treat me with utmost respect and dignity. They're just like their father. They were reared well, they know how to treat a person. They know how to speak to you. The respect that's there is second to none and I love every one of them.

“I have a great family here. They're great, they're brilliant. My husband is very good, was very understanding of the whole situation, going into work when I was called in unexpectedly or anything like that.”

Looking at the rejuvenation of the Church Street area in the past few years and the changes there, Kathleen says, “it's lovely. The area itself is gorgeous. The way they did it, it's just brilliant.”

“Eddie Maguires is there, Kieran's is there, the vegetable shop is just around the corner, the bakery is there, sure what more would you want?

“Trade in that area is wonderful. And long may it last!”