Kilkenny traders have predicted their biggest Christmas bonanza for years (1973)

There’s a boom despite the gloom. That’s the picture in the Kilkenny region this week as the huge hundreds of thousands of pounds spending spree went into full swing.

Kilkenny traders have predicted their biggest Christmas bonanza for years in spite of threatened unemployment as a result of the worsening fuel crisis.

Credit Unions and piggy banks have given out more money than ever before.

Spirits, particularly whiskey, are selling at a fantastic rate and Christmas tables will be laden down with turkeys. The toy trade is enjoying its happiest Christmas for a long time.

Vicar street supermarket owner Martin Cleere attributes the boom trade to the petrol shortage.

“People won’t be able to travel to other cities to do their shopping,” he said.

He reports a roaring trade in whiskey.

“We would need to have our own distillery in Kilkenny, it is selling so well,” he quipped.

Members of St Canice’s Credit Union will have between £40,000 and £45,000 to spend on Christmas Market while a ‘substantial sum’ which is well up on last year was given out to members of St Canice’s piggy bank in Kilkenny.

John Street Traders Association have no complaints. Their chairman, Eamonn O’Keeffe, reports a general increase in all trade and says that the street is having one of its best Christmasses for a good while.

Early this week a 17% increase in business was reported by Tom Cunniffe, manager of the VG Supermarket in Parliament Street. He is also expecting a very good Christmas.

Mr Tommy Duggan of Richard Duggan and Sons believes there is more money in circulation than usual. He reports an excellent trade in toys which is well up on last Christmas.

It also seems Santa Claus is cashing in on the boom as he is getting around more than ever before. This year he is in most of the major city stores.