Roy and Angela look forward to their post-retail therapy

Roy Connor of Spar on Dominick Street was 60 on Friday (happy birthday, Roy!) and that personal milestone is significant part of the decision that has led to him and his wife Angela handing over the shop to a new owner.

Roy and Angela and their staff, including Ann Coyne, who has been with them since they opened the shop on October 4, 2007, were busy dealing with customers as well as the formal transfer to new owner Tony O’Connor on Thursday morning, when the Westmeath Examiner called in.

Asked why they were making the move now, Roy mentioned his 60th and said: “I wanted to have a few years relaxed and not have the stress of running a business, and that’s why we made this decision there a few months ago.”

He and Angela have fond memories of their 19 years in business in Mullingar. Roy admits it was a slow start, “we were new to the town, people didn’t know us and people were cautious, but people started coming in, started to get to know us and welcomed us into the community – so we feel part of the community now for a long time”.

Roy and Angela paid tribute to their staff. They employ 15 people, full and part-time, and spoke with particular fondness about Ann. “She looks after the shop for us and she’s been brilliant, she’s been here for the whole 19 years, since before we opened the doors, and she’s been great. All the rest of the staff are great; we have Gerry, manager here for the last five years, he’s been doing a fantastic job, and the rest of the staff of course are great.

“We have a lot of great customers, and a lot of great staff have come through and gone out the other side.”

Of the many memories they have, a standout one is the time when Niall Horan brought his friend Louis Capaldi to sample the Spar’s famous chicken fillet rolls. That was during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2022, when the pop stars were here filming a ‘Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road To Mullingar With Lewis Capaldi’, a Guinness backed documentary.

“Niall has been a special ambassador for us really, and our chicken fillet roll put us on the map. Niall came in every day when he was at school had his chicken fillet roll, and it was a big part of his life, because he brought Lewis Capaldi here and as part of his homecoming film, which was showing things that he remembered from when he was growing up in the town.

“It was great to be part of that, it was huge. He’s been in a few times, whenever he’s back home, whenever he has the chance, he’ll be in, and we’ve seen him a lot over the years, from when he was at school to being sort of famous, to being famous, coming down in his car with his three bodyguards. His feet are still on the ground and he’s a normal guy, a genuine person.”

Concluding, Roy and Angela returned to pay tribute to their customers, without whom, they point out, there is no business, and their staff. “They paid our wages over the years, they’re great customers, they keep coming back all the time, from every section of the community.”

They are now looking forward to not having to be on duty from 6am every day, and on call all the time.

“We’re not going anywhere, we’re still young enough to do things, to get a job if that’s what we plan to do… we just need to recuperate and recharge our batteries. The main thing is to relax and get a bit healthier. In summary, we’ve had a great time, we’ve enjoyed the last 19 years, there have been ups and downs, as for everybody. We will still be around, we’re not we’re not going anywhere yet.”

The new owner at Spar Dominick Street

Tony O’Connor, new owner of Spar on Dominick Street, completed the transfer from Roy and Angela Connor on Thursday morning.

An experienced retailer, who has a Londis in Navan and a Spar in Lucan, Tony thanked the Connors for the smooth handover. “We have big boots to fill, replacing Roy and Angela here in Mullingar, and we hope we can deliver a service as good as they have for the last 19 years.”

CMG Body Ragged: Tony lives in Tullamore and plans to spend considerable time at his shop in Mullingar. “We will have the same team here, a very good team, and I’m looking forward to working with them, and to serving the people of Mullingar.”