QUESTIONS RAISED OVER NORTHERN SHOPPING TRIP
As the local business community struggles to survive in recessionary times, questions have this week been raised about the organisation of bus trips to Northern Ireland by a community group in Knockadea. Two buses are scheduled to leave Mitchelstown on Saturday, November 13 to bring a local group to Northern Ireland for a shopping trip.
Organised by TO Park in Knockadea, the two buses are reported to be almost full and a delegation from the Park has already travelled North to ‘check out’ the facilities.
In the weekly TO Park notes in The Avondhu the delegation declared that they were, ‘delighted with the hotel, shopping centres and the market’.
HARD TIMES
While shopping trips to the North of Ireland are nothing new for the people who live close to the border, questions have, however, been asked as to why, in these hard economic times for local retailers, shoppers from Mitchelstown and surrounds are spending their money in another jurisdiction.
“Nobody can stop people from spending their money where and when they like. However, from a local business point of view, we would ask shoppers to consider shopping locally first.
“These are tough times for businesses in our town, all I would ask is that shoppers consider what is available in your local area and then decide if you want to support businesses in another town or, as in this case, another jurisdiction,” chairman of Mitchelstown Business Association (MBA) Eamonn O’Brien said.
RESPONDING TO DEMAND
Reacting to this call for shoppers to consider shopping locally first, trip organiser, Tom O’Flynn said that he was reacting to a demand.
“This trip is in response to a demand that is there from the people that have approached us. For many of the people going on this trip it is a weekend away, some are going for the shopping, true, but others are going because they have never been up North before. Indeed, there are a few who will not be shopping at all,” Mr O’Flynn said.
Published:
Thursday 14th October 6:21pm
