Crowds Descend On “Clare’s Luckiest Shop” At End Of An Era

Crowds have descended on Clare’s luckiest shop, to bid a fond farewell to it’s owners.

After over four decades, O’Dowd’s in the Turnpike area of Ennis, will be changing hands next week.

Crowd’s have descended on O’Dowd’s in Turnpike today to celebrate Jim O’Dowd and his family, who’ve become pillars of the local community.

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On the 26th of October, 1973 Jim and Ann O’Dowd began renting a small shop spanning 20 square foot in the Turnpike area of Ennis, and bought it a number of years later.

Since then, it’s expanded in size to over 2,200 square foot , following a number of extensions, with the help of neighbours who sold plots of land from the gardens.

The corner shop became affectionately known as Clare’s Luckiest Shop after a series of big wins in the lotto.

But next week, after four decades, it will be changing hands with owner Jim retiring and his daughter Alison stepping down.

Jim says it was the right time to begin the next chapter.

Crowds have gathered in the area this morning to wave a fond farewell to the O’Dowds.

Maire Pine from McNamara Park has been coming to the shop since it’s opening day – she says back then, it had a major impact on the local community.

The O’Dowd’s step down from the business next week.

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