Twenty-six is likely a lucky number for Kilworth native Dave McCarthy of Fermoy Hire & Sales, as he is now beginning his ‘second retirement’ after completing another 26-year stint.
After 26 years in the tool hire business and having turned 66 years-of-age two months ago, the Kilworth native has shut his premises on the Castlehyde Road.
While back in 2015, another milestone was reached in his career, when Dave retired from the Fermoy Firebrigade where he had also spent 26 years serving the community as a part-time fireman.
Speaking with The Avondhu, Dave explained that he began in the tool hire industry with McLoughlin’s on Connolly Street, who then sold the business to Powers. Having run the shop for Powers for some time, Dave eventually bought the equipment from the owners and opened his own shop in 1997.
“Of course, as the town grew, my business grew as well. As more and more builders came to town, it helped. It was a business mainly for builders and for the gardening sector as well. As time went on, more and more people went into gardening, which wouldn’t have been a big thing at the start but as time went on, DIY and gardening became bigger again.
“I’m originally from Kilworth. When I started off, I was involved in the GAA in Kilworth and I knew all of the players from the surrounding teams. It was a great benefit to me starting off because I had lots of friends and supporters and as the years went on then, I made a lot more friends from people coming in. There was a constant source of customers over the years and there were a lot of the same customers coming back time and time again,” Dave recalls.
When asked, Dave noted that the most popular tools of the trade for builders were cement mixers and kango hammers. While for gardeners and those undertaking DIY, power washers, grass trimmers and hedge trimmers were in high demand.
The loyalty shown to Dave, particularly from those he knew through the sporting scene initially, helped his trade grow over the years.
“I played hurling with Kilworth for a long, long time and I knew all of the local teams and the players from teams in Fermoy, Kilworth, Glanworth, Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, Kildorerry and all that area. A lot of my customers came from that area, they knew me and I knew them, so it made things a lot easier,” he said.
Closing the store for good on Monday, Dave said that he wished to thank all his customers over the years for their loyalty and support, noting that many have since become ‘great friends’.
Looking to the future, there are no plans for slowing down despite Dave’s hope for a relaxing summer.
We wish him well in his next chapter in life – and enjoy the summer Dave!
