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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Shopfront project a real eye-opener
A TOTAL transformation awaits Enniscorthy ‘in a hundred and one ways’, and all because its local authority has embraced a challenging initiative that encourages and promotes the more traditional-style shopfronts.
This is the verdict of an English businessman with strong Irish roots, who is advocating that Enniscorthy Town Council widen the scheme concerned and promote steep-street Enniscorthy as a heritage town, a move that could pay massive dividends.
Bill Dempsey, whose father hailed from Ballyvaldon, Blackwater, is a well-known figure in the overseas removal and household furniture sales business.
In his view, Enniscorthy Town Council is ‘finally on the right track’ with its recently announced Shopfront Improvement Scheme initiative, which will initially involve Slaney Street and Irish Street, and then possibly extending to take in other central areas of the town.
The project aims to enhance the historic character and traditional streetscape by creating shopfronts which are more attractive to residents, visitors, shoppers and businesses.
According to Bill Dempsey, the local authority should be highlycommended for taking a pro-active role in encouraging a major facelift for Enniscorthy’s retail and commercial sector, and also doing so in a planned and traditionalstyle manner.
He says, “To see what happened to shopfronts in the 1960s and ‘70s, in particular, is almost criminal all plastic and fibreglass, and even worse.
What makes a shop attractive is the initial visual impact it displays, and there’s nothing more attractive than having it adorned in the traditional craftsmanship style.
“Attention to the joinery, painting and decorating aspects are vitally important to project an attractive shopfront, with work on panels, leadlines on top and the rest all showing up an eye-catching premises at its best.” He says it sounds a simple idea and also an obvious thing for someone to get done, but the actual result is simply unbelievable, in terms of visual appearance, added attractiveness and also helping things the work of local Tidy Towns’ groups.
Mr. Dempsey put a major effort into creating the frontage of his own premises in Blackwater village. The effort also helped create valuable employment and also encouraged crafts persons and their work, which are in some cases almost a dying art.
“We had joiner Andy Roche and sign-writer James Stafford and other local craftsmen involved, and it’s exactly the kind of example Enniscorthy should be aiming for with its project.”
Bill’s outlet in Blackwater is a big attraction, especially for the many visitors who traditionally throng to the area in the holiday months. The local Tidy Towns’ group is also naturally delighted with such efforts.
In his cross-channel work, Bill says he has come across an endless list of specially-decorated shop-fronts, and it’s these that stand out and make an impact.
“Whether is a single premises or a number of shops in a street, the visual effect they have on people is stunning. The trick is to get the right people involved in operating the different crafts.
“Enniscorthy Town Council is to be congratulated and encouraged on taking this initiative, and let’s hope it proves to be the success it deserves to be. As a town and as a community, Enniscorthy itself is going to reap the benefits of the project.”
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