Ribbon cut to officially open new NCBI store in east Mayo

NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest retail store in Swinford, which boasts a new, modernised look and feel.

To celebrate their newest store, which is the perfect place for locals to grab their pre-loved gems, they invited local service user Patrick Byrne to be the VIP guest to cut the opening ribbon.

NCBI Swinford is located on Market Street in the town.

Said Patrick at the opening: “I’m delighted that the team at Swinford invited me along to open up the new NCBI shop here. It’s brilliant to be able to visit this shop to pick up something from their huge pre-loved selection.

“The support I’ve had from NCBI since I’ve been involved with them has been brilliant, so it would be great if everyone in Swinford and beyond could support this brilliant organisation.”

Lorna O’Donovan, area manager for NCBI Swinford, added: “It’s amazing to bring an NCBI store to the lovely people of Swinford who have already welcomed us with open arms. It’s even better that we can provide the for locals to bag a bargain!

“The goal of our stores is to contribute to the many services and supports NCBI offers to people who are blind or vision impaired.

“We are conscious of our responsibility within the fashion industry to keep our stores as sustainable as possible, which is why promoting our pre-loved clothing, accessories, and more over fast fashion is so important.”

Although the look inside NCBI shops is changing, a shopper’s ability to bag a bargain or find a hidden gem certainly will not. Their pre-loved clothes and accessories in Swinford and around Ireland provide the perfect alternative to fast fashion. Donations will also be gratefully accepted at Swinford or any other NCBI shop around Ireland.

NCBI’s chain of shops, which is the second largest in Ireland, plays a vital and integral part in the charity’s overall fundraising efforts, allowing the national sight loss agency to provide vital, life-changing services to over 8,000 people each year.