Vincent’s charity shop, Thurles, hosted its grand-opening ceremony on July 31.
The festivities got underway at 12pm, with tea, coffee, snacks and face-painting available to all in attendance, as Jeca the Clown entertained guests both within the shop and on the street.
The ribbon-cutting took place at 12:30pm, being cut by Fr Purcell, along with Joan Maher, Joan Connors, and Rose Webster.
Speaking with Tipperary Live at the ceremony, store manager Rose Webster detailed her excitement for the future of the branch: “The store was revamped last August and today is the official opening day of that revamp. They're here in this store since 2021, and before that, they were down beside the Town House Deli.
“It's to bring the community in, because obviously we give back to the community so that's what today is about. The raffle prizes that we’re giving back to the community, and obviously the promotions, and just supporting what St Vincent de Paul does.
“The excitement in the build-up was like the All-Ireland, it was just that buzzing feeling, the volunteers are fantastic, they’re giving up their time, so it’s about them as well, and the hard work that they do here in the shop, but it’s also about the community and the recurring customers that come into us, and all of the profits then go back into the community and help the people that need the help in the community.”
Suzanne McNamara O’Reilly, Regional Retail Manager for the Mid West region, said: “The grand opening was a fantastic success. The shop was bustling with activity and the atmosphere was filled with community spirit. Local businesses, staff, loyal customers, new visitors, friends, and family all came out to support us. It was a day of celebration and appreciation for the effort that went into creating a vibrant, welcoming space for our community. Many of the shop’s fixtures and fittings were generously donated by local businesses, reinforcing the feeling that the shop truly belongs to the community.
“The opening was a joyful and memorable event, and everyone involved was delighted with how it turned out. While our manager Rose, who loves a good detail, led the planning, the work was very much a team effort. Our wonderful volunteers, including the two Joans who have supported the shop for many years, all pitched in. The day was made even more special by celebrating one of the Joan’s 70th birthday, with a cake and plenty of smiles. It was a lovely way to honour both her and the heart of our volunteer team.”
Speaking on the mission of St Vincent de Paul, Rose emphasised how important giving back to the community is to the organisation: “They do direct assistance so they do, so if anyone is in need of help or anything, they do direct assistance whether it might be, you know, vouchers or assistance with bills and stuff like that, or food, and so they've different types of services that they do.
“We have different parts of St Vincent de Paul, you know like it could be home visitation, the meals on wheels, the shops are only a small sector of St Vincent de Paul.”
Suzanne said: “Vincent’s is the retail arm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Our mission is to serve a wide variety of customers,those who shop sustainably, those seeking great value, and those who may need a bit of extra support. Our shops are not just retail spaces; they are also a vital part of fundraising efforts to support the work of the Society. The funds raised help us assist individuals and families who need a helping hand.
The shop ran a special promotion on the day of the opening, with 20% off all items in-store, as well as a raffle entry for every customer who spent €10 or more.
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