More than 500 people turned up for a meeting in Creeslough, Co Donegal, last night in support of the village’s biggest employer, which has gone into examinership.
Danny Lafferty owns the Corncutters Rest pub, the Vivo supermarket and the Shell service station in Creeslough, which has a population of 300.
Local people have expressed fears that the closure of his business will seriously affect economic life in the north Donegal village.
Mr Lafferty (60), who has been working in the family business since he was 17, said a combination of factors had led to his company entering examinership .
“I don’t want to sound like I am complaining but it is a combination of factors which has resulted in my business being where it is today.
“I cannot compete with the multinationals and neither can any small shop in rural Ireland today. On top of that you have rising rates and costs and it is just getting more difficult all the time,” he said.
Among those who turned up to support him were public representatives Pearse Doherty TD (SF), MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF), Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill (FF) and Cllrs David Alcorn (FF) and Séamus Ó Domhnaill (FF).
The Lafferty family business has been part of the fabric of life in Creeslough since 1906.
Uphill struggle
Mr Lafferty said he will not give up his business without a fight but admits that he is facing an uphill struggle to pay creditors. He said he was proud to be part of the community-led initiative, but didn’t know whether it could come in time to save his business.
“The business has been in Creeslough for over 100 years and we have been given 100 days to save it. It won’t be for a lack of trying and the support we have received. All we can do is to try our best,” he said.
Former county councillor and businessman Noel McGinley said he was shocked and dismayed by the situation Mr Lafferty found himself in.
The meeting decided to form a committee to look at ways of supporting Mr Lafferty.