Mayo green-grocery closing down after 30 years in business

A long-established Mayo green-grocery is closing after 30 years in business.

Liam Cannon, proprietor of Liam's Fruit and Veg, Hopkins Road, Castlebar, has announced his decision due to health reasons.

Saturday, March 8, will be the popular shop's final day of trading after being first established in 1995.

The news is being received with regret and sadness in the community because it represents the end of an era.

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, Liam said he made his decision after long and careful consideration.

He explained: "As an MS sufferer, my health has deteriorated to a point where I am no longer in a position to run the business.

"It pains me to say that, but that's the reality.

"I loved the job and I had many happy years working in my shop on Hopkins Road.

"I had very loyal staff and customers and I thank them all for being so supportive of me over the past three decades and previous to that when I operated from a stall at the location.

"I will always regard it as a very happy time in my life and I'm sorry to be left with no other option but to close my business due my declining health. That's the only reason."

Liam and his staff brought great joy into people's lives over the years, not only for the consistently high standard of their fruit and vegetables - but also for the lively chat and banter that was part and parcel of shopping there.

It's another family-owned retail shop that will be greatly missed when it closes its doors for the last time on Saturday week next.

The news also represents a second blow for Hopkins Road in recent days as the nearby New Look outlet closed yesterday (Sunday) after its parent company went into liquidation.