Two Enterprising Ladies of 1929
Aggie Harrington and Winnie Harrington
Two enterprising young ladies from Lacken Kingsland moved up to Breedogue and opened a small but thriving business. Aggie and Winnie Harrington, daughters of John and Ellen, built a house opposite the church and opened a shop. They were both unmarried. They were educated in Kingsland National School by Miss Higgins. They then went to the convent school in Carrick on- Shannon. The shop was opened in 1929. It was stocked with groceries, delph, hardware and various haberdashery. Fresh eggs and butter were supplied by the local community. Aggie spent most of her time running the business. Winnie devoted her time to the gardens and housework. Aggie did a great Sunday trade, especially as she sold the Sunday papers. The population in the area was a lot higher compared to now. She kept very busy in the shop, her nephews Bill and Frank Harrington formerly of Grangemore Boyle moved up as children with their aunts. Frank helped Aggie in the shop. When he was not attending school, he stocked shelves and weighed goods. Bill helped Winnie with the outdoor work. Aggie was a great innovator. She was the first lady in the county to supply ice-cream. She made the ice-cream herself from powder and cream which she bought in Dublin. Since there was no electricity Aggie stored the ice-cream in a steel barrel. The inside of the barrel was lined with ice. She sold the ice-cream in cones. Bergins from Sligo supplied the biscuits. They were delivered in square tins. They were sold separately usually four biscuits for a penny. Winnie had to leave the shop in 1937. She moved up to Kingsland when her brother Johnnie died. Johnnie's wife died six years previously to this. Winnie took over the business. She remained there until she died. When she died it was a great loss to all who were privileged to have known her. Aggie stayed on in the shop. She went to mass every morning without fail. The shop was open after mass and remained open until eleven o'clock at night, for seven days of the week. She kept up her busy schedule right up to her death in 1968. She died suddenly at the age of 74 years. Aggie's nephew Bill Harrington and his wife Mary continued the business after her death. The shop is still open up to this present day. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Bill and Mary a long and healthy life and of course a prosperous business.