One of the best known women's clothes stores, McElhinney's Fashions of Athboy, has announced it is to re-open. The shop closed its doors last month when it went into voluntary liquidation.
Now, however, the management has announced that the shop is to re-open next week with all of the staff getting their jobs back. The store employs 56 people.
On June 9 last it seemed McElhinney's had closed its doors for the final time. Founded by Molly McElhinney 73 years ago, the shop had become an iconic retail outlet for ladies' fashions, attracting customers from all over Ireland to Athboy in Co. Meath.
But the recession took its toll on the business and it went into voluntary liquidation with debts of nearly €6m. After an agreement between the owners of the business and the Irish fashion company, Flairline, it has been announced that McElhinney's of Athboy is to re-open next Monday.
Flairline, which is owned by the Barron family, has 23 separate stores around the country under various names. It says it will be assisting the owners, the Sweeney family, in managing McElhinneys as well as providing additional support.
