McElhinney Fashions to reopen next week

HIGH-PROFILE County Meath clothes shop McElhinney Fashions, forced to close its doors last month, is to reopen next week.

The Athboy shop, which was opened in 1937 by Molly McElhinney, attracted generations of people from all over Ireland shopping for communions, confirmations and weddings.

It was forced to close on June 5th after a winding-up application from one of its creditors.

At the time, current owner Neal Sweeney, a grandson of Molly McElhinney, said the company had experienced trading difficulties for 18 months and blamed the banks for not lending the store the money to get through the recession.

The shop will now reopen under a new agreement with Irish fashion distributor, the Flairline Group, which will see all 56 McElhinney’s staff who lost their jobs last month return to work.

As part of the deal, Flairline will take over the purchasing of all stock for McElhinney while sharing a percentage of turnover with the Meath retailer. McElhinney will continue to run the business on a day-to-day basis, supplying the same labels as before.

Flairline owns Richard Alan, Pamela Scott, Ashley Reeves and Lisa Perkins fashion outlets in Ireland and also operates a fashion distribution business to 300 Irish boutique retailers.

Flairline was founded in 1970 by Seán Barron who continues to run the business with his sons.

Robert Barron, marketing director of Flairline said: “We’ve supplied McElhinney over the years.

“When my father contacted Mr Sweeney to say he was sorry about the closure, they got talking.

“We have given a commitment to the Sweeneys to restore McElhinney Fashions to its former glory and we look forward to making good on that promise.”

Mr Sweeney said: “We are delighted to partner with Flairline to provide our customers with the service and the brands they’ve come to expect.”

The shop will reopen for business next Monday, July 26th.