Remembering Tir na Nog - Tributes from customers and friends July 2022
Staff Reunion before the final curtain comes down Saturday 31st July 2022.
The curtains have finally come down, the lights are out, the shelves are empty and the shop is closed. Mary, Nora, John and their loyal longtime staff member Kathleen are retiring. And although we are all very sad that Sligo lost an iconic shop of great importance we are also immensely grateful for the service Mary, Nora, John and Kathleen and all the other former staff members have given us over the past 42 years.
The memory of Ita Callagy probably sums it up best:
I was fortunate enough to work in Tír na nÓg for a while in the mid-00s. Mary, John & Nora are three of the most wonderful souls you could meet and work for and with (not forgetting the incredible Kathleen, aka Mammy K to me!) There was no query too trivial, any question that couldn’t be answered on the spot would be researched and an answer found for the next time you came in (typically with that gently asked greeting “Are you well?”) Between their former cafe and their shop, they championed an amazing array of fresh & organic foods long before that became an everyday concept, and the card shop provided some of the funniest cards and wonderful little gifts…as well as stocking the important Far Side calendars annually! How lucky we’ve been to have had them for the last 40 years, I hope their retirement brings them as much joy as they’ve brought to the people of Sligo.
In response to our tribute to Tir na nOg on various social media channels (Sigo Food Tours, Neantog Kitchen Garden School, Love Sligo, Sligo Faces and Places we have received a myriad of comments, well wishes and great memories and here is a small selection of them (mainly for Mary, Nora, John and Kathleen to be remembered):
Mary Gilmartin: I live in Dublin now, and missed this news until today. It's too late to drop into Tír na nÓg in person for the last time, but I wanted to thank everyone there, and especially Mary, for being a big part of what has kept Sligo feeling like home in the 30+ years since I moved away. Thank you for the great conversations and advice, and for the care and compassion that's evident in everything you do. I hope the next adventure brings you as much joy as you've brought all of us
Ailbhe Lee: Wishing Mary and John and all their amazing staff a beautiful retirement. Certainly an amazing shop actually more than a shop . Everyone is so knowledgeable about all the products and what helps varied ailments. Certainly will be missed x
Vivienne Ryan: Such a wonderful business. Thank you for bringing your knowledge, expertise and amazing products to Sligo. You will be missed . Best of luck on your retirement.
Yvette Haughey: Heartfelt gratitude to the beautiful and fabulous Mary, Kathleen and Nora - you have looked after Harriet and I so wonderfully well over the years and we will miss you terribly - wishing you all happy, carefree and sunny days ahead
Bríd Mhic Dhiarmada: What great pioneers in organic food !You brought the organic food movement to Sligo and persevered until it is now so popular organic food is available in commercial supermarkets. Well done and thanks !
Eithne Waters: So sad! I remember when Mary first came & the incredible quiches & salads we used to adore! I’ve never tasted a quiche so good since! A very happy retirement Mary, John, Nora & Kathleen, you deserve the very best!
Pat Rooney: Sorry to hear that. Another sign of capitalism taking over the High Street. Keep voting the usual and more of this will occur.
Deirdre Roddy Thank you for all your support and help for the past twenty plus years, and still today always good advice on alternative options I have always respected and appreciate your options. I will be sorry to see you leave.
Maura Brannock: Best wishes girls on your future adventures. Thanks for introducing “ organic “ into Sligo chat Mary . You were a pioneer in the Green Revolution. Mary Nora & Kathleen- Bon voyage. MB
Karen Chrystal: Awh this is v sad news started going to Mary when I was 16 one of the nicest helpful kind & informative ladies with a wonderful team , they have a wealth of knowledge & always had time to help & give advice, we’ve had many a chat over the years wishing her & the girls a v happy & healthy retirement one of the best shops in Sligo
Colette Morrissey: Will be very much missed i been shopping and getting advice for many years. Best of luck and health for the future.
Helen Adams: Always sad to hear any close or end … shops like these are wonderful places of vitality , social support and conversation . From all the lovely comments I have read everyone clearly loved you
Carmel Gilmartin: So Sad To Hear. Made Many Peoples Lives So Happy. A Wonderful Service .Thank You All For Making It Possible .Will Be Sadly Missed
Rhena Gallagher: Good luck wit your retirement I'll miss the shop it was an iconic nice shop and part of Sligo jem there will never be another shop like that in Sligo wit Mary and staff who had a wealth of knowledge and experience in organic food and tablets and good a…
Muriel Parkes: Sorry to see Tír na Nóg go Mary and Staff very nice and helpful. Wish you all the best Mary on your retirement and in the future. You will be missed!
Catherine Rooney: Tin Ni Oig, I remember the first time I went into the shop years ago Mary and Nora were so good, my late aunt May did her shopping there, Nora would always bring her shopping to her house if she could not collect, and if you were collecting they would have it ready all she had to do was ring up, I've always love the shop, and the girls they have helped me out with advise on supplements and good food, best of luck Mary, Nora John and Kathleen you will be missed.
Here are some tributes from their 40th Anniversary
Tir Na Nog could not celebrate their 40th anniversary at Easter 2020, because of the pandemic. We asked friends of our Sligo Food Tours facebook page to tell us their memories. Here is what we posted
“Tir na nOg was always going to feature on our food tour. They are stalwarts of not only the Sligo but the Irish food scene. Who remembers their coffee shop upstairs and can leave a memory here for us to tell on our tour? They opened Easter 1980 above the present Cat and the Moon in Castle Street!”
This post got 100 likes, engaged 561 people and reached more than 3000 people, here are the comments:
Jo Lewis I remember coming on holiday (to our newly bought cottage in Dromahair back in 1993) and finding Tir Na Nog - couldn't believe our luck. We were sorry the cafe had gone when we next visited Sligo. Delighted that the shop is still there - great staff and servive. Thanks Sligo Food Tours for highlighting them :
Anne-Marie Ahern Fantastic people, Mary, Nora, John and Kathleen and everyone involved with Tir na nOg...ethical and kind and generous with their knowledge..great they are being applauded here ...
Kellie Cadman Oh they are complete legends! It was like Magorians Emporium as a teenager.. and then I was lucky enough to work in both shops at seperare times of my life... the health food and card shop. Mary, John and Nora are an institution in Sligo, and have helped so many people where 'conventional' methods failed. Like I said: Legends!
Gavin Macarthur Every week, I used to scrape together the money it took to buy one of the McCauley carrot cakes they sold throughout the 1980s. I was also a big fan of their essential oil stock and their olive oil-based soaps. Those two gentlefolk - John and Mary - always knew how to talk to people and I am glad to see so many people showing their appreciation.
Prannie Rhatigan Did Mary start in Wine Street first? With the cafe and demos? She was a breath of fresh air. I remember my mother being thrilled and welcomed Mary and learned about new ingredients from her - like carob to replace chocolate in baking! was 1 of her first customers. We were school going but it seems like yesterday.
Sligo Food Tours They were in Castle Street first!
Ollie Moore Mary was at the first iofga meeting in 1982, on Rod Alston's farm
Anne Scanlon Love Tir Na Nog Mary Nora and the girls are fabulous they are unique, we are so lucky to have them in our lovely town 🦋👍
Noeleen Tyrrell We arrived in Dromahair in 94 so missed the coffee shop but remember the delicious yoghurt that Mary used to make, and was there a peanut butter machine or am I imagining that. I have such admiration for all at Tir na Nog
Gill Bell Was really sad when the coffee shop upstairs closed. It was cosy and a great place to meet friends. John and Mary were kind and generously gave me a discount on supplies when I had Lymphoma. Great they are still going strong! 😃
Anthony Gray Priceless 👍
Denyse Murphy Wine street was the first with sacks of beans on floor and great cafe wonderful memories 🤣
Peter Henry Mary is a Legend in Sligo
Sligo ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 's Mary .
Be it the old cafe with wonderful healthy fare or her shop where health options are plentiful as is the advice.
Olga Mc Carrick By far the best shop in town... Mary, Nora and Kathleen are so generous with their time and vast knowledge.
Susan Bourke I remember Mary doing cookery demonstrations and she started my cooking lentils to this day! She also makes a great brown bread! #waybackthen #circa1979/80!!
Sligo Food Tours They opened Easter 1980 above the present Cat&the Moon in Castle Street.
Maev Gallagher Yes they opened a cafe in wine street first and it was epic....I remember the veg soup to this day....we used to go there for lunch when we were students in the Ursuline!!! ☺️
Sandy Perceval We started going to her shop upstairs in Castle street.
Elle Driver School Strandhill: 🧡🧡🧡My favourite shop in Sligo🧡🧡🧡 I have no words to express how glad I am that we have this wonderful shop in our town. And as for Mary well she is just the sweetest kindest lady with so much great knowledge and advice! Just a visit to the shop is good for my heart and I have always bought Christmas presents from here..to me Tir na nOg is sligos treasure
Odilon Hunt: Coffee shop was before my time but Mary and the team are so helpful and knowledgeable. Tir na nOg is one of Sligo's treasures.