Courtmac community shop plans to open by end of May

BY KIERAN O’MAHONY

THE committee behind the Courtmacsherry Community Shop Co-operative is now calling on volunteers to help them renovate the building, in advance of the shop’s proposed opening at the end of May. 

The call for volunteers follows  last week’s first meeting of the co-operative, where so far people both from home and abroad have bought €11,000 in shares. 

Shares are offered in blocks of a minimum of 50 shares for €50, and there is no limit on the maximum number of shares that any individual may hold in the society.  Chairman of the co-operative, Denis Cahalane, said they had reached a ‘critical junction’ now and the community shop needed money but also volunteers.

‘Let’s have a counter revolution here in Courtmacsherry and be the first co-operative in the county to run a community shop,’ said Denis.

Over 130 people attended the meeting in Courtmacsherry Community Centre where the plans for the community shop were outlined in a presentation.

‘We were delighted with the turnout at our first meeting, and we sold €5,000 in shares on the night which was an incredible figure but we need the sale of shares to open the premises,’ said PRO Dara Gannon.

‘What we are looking for now is tradesmen, carpenters and craftspeople to volunteer their services to enable us to fit out the shop premises, which is located at the old post office. We are hoping that we can at least raise €20,000 to secure the opening of the premises,’ he added. 

An information session is being held in the post office every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, where shares can also be bought.