Pictured at the Granary in Thurles were, back row: Richard Darcy, Kevin Bourke, Oliver Dwan, Keith Nolan, Tom Hassett, Martin Tynan, Conor Gleeson, Sean Ryan, Barry Maher, PJ Delaney. Front: John Paul Ryan, Michael Maher, Jimmy Greed, Joe Quinlan, Matty Stapleton, PJ Kiely, John Joe Maher, John Fogarty. Missing from photo: Michael Vahey.

End of an era in Borrisoleigh

Published:

In the 1960s the Gleeson family had a hardware, grocery and bar business on the Main Street in Borrisoleigh.

They also bottled beer behind their premises and when this business grew busier they set up M & J Gleeson on Pallas Street in or around 1963. The business continued to expand and Gleeson’s sold out to the Cooney brothers from Tipperary Town in 1974.

The brothers continued to expand the company, moving to Greenlawn in 1990.

The successful company was a huge employer in the area and a great boost to the local economy. At its height they had 350 employees in Borrisoleigh with as many more working throughout Ireland.

That included management, sales, distribution, manufacturing, marketing and accounting.

Between Gleesons and Tipperary Water, they were exporting to 18 countries. In 2012 Cantrell and Cochrane (C&C) purchased Gleeson Wholesale from Pat Cooney. C&C closed the manufacturing plant in 2016 but kept the wholesale side open.

The following year C&C sold the Greenlawn site to Shannon Transport Limited but then rented back a warehouse from them in order to continue the wholesale business. The doors finally closed in September of this year, bringing 57 years of trading to an end in Borrisoleigh.

At the time of its closure there were 19 workers remaining. They met for the ‘Last Supper’ at the Granary in Thurles and had a most enjoyable evening. Between them, they had a combined service of 479 years to the drinks trade in Borrisoleigh. The end of an era.

Published: