Collection: About Us
History of Rochforts
Nally family marking 50 years at Rochfort’s
The name over the door may say “Rochfort’s” - but to locals, the landmark Dominick Street emporium known for its great ice-cream, its record of lottery successes, and its shelves wedged with toys, musical instruments cards and groceries goes only as “Tommy Nally’s”.
There’s good reason for that: for a full half century, the man at the helm has been Tommy Nally, and the woman beside him for the entirety of that journey has been his wife Sheila.
These days, sharing the responsibility for the business with them are two of their five children – Tomás and Avril (Kelly), assisted by a staff of twenty.
This very month marks the golden anniversary of Tommy and Sheila’s acquisition of what was back then just a small traditional tobacconist and grocery store that had been set up in the early years of the 1900s.
“They were always progressive in their approach and keen to keep the business evolving and responding to the demands or interests of the time,” says Tomás Nally of his parents.
“It was a single-room grocery/tobacconist when they bought it – a kind of a general store – but quite small.”
To grow, the Nallys needed more space and so when a neighbouring premises became available, they bought and expanded into it – repeating the process again some years later when another neighbouring building went on the market.
Says Tomás: “Mum and Dad have both always been very progressive and have always seen when change was needed, because if you stop and say: ‘ We’re going to do this forever’, you will get left behind.”
They started branching out, doing gifts, greeting cards, and toys and souvenirs, and in the last ten or fifteen years moved in to the sale of musical instruments as well.
The result is the impressive business they have today that also accommodates a newsagency and two food businesses - Maple Moose, which specialises in ice creams, waffles, milkshakes and crepes; and Four Star Pizza.
That expansion and evolution has kept Rochfort’s true to the family’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek business motto: “If we haven’t got it, you don’t need it!” quips Tomás.
Its town centre location and long opening hours means Rochfort’s has fulfilled a vital role in the life of the town – as many a grateful late-night shopper can attest.
Long after most other shops and supermarkets have closed, the lights of Rochfort’s have regularly represented a prayer answered for families who have run out of bread or milk late in the evening, leaving the baby’s 2am bottle or the children’s next-day school lunches in jeopardy.
“We are open from 6.30am until 11 each day.” says Tomás.
“We always made a point of opening early because you would be surprised at the amount of people out and about at that time, who want a coffee or a newspaper or a litre of milk of whatever,” says Tomás.
“You’re not just talking about people going to work, but also people who are on their way home after a night shift or who are breaking a journey, or maybe in town to catch an early train or to drop someone at the station.
“We know may of our customers as friends at this stage, and in our minds it’s all about anticipating what customers may want or need – and making sure we meet that need, while providing a welcoming greeting, or having a bit of a chat or banter. It’s the personal touch.”
Store has over a century of history
Although the Nally family are celebrating 50 years in business this year the story of Rochforts began in the early 1900’s and was a tale of true love in a very different Mullingar.
The premises at that time, a single story thatch cottage with a half door, was rented by Miss Ellen Mangan who showed her fortitude by being a single lady in business on her own.
Her steeliness was evidenced when the developers moved in to convert her premises into the three-storey building it is today: instead of shutting up shop Ellen insisted she be allowed trade from a tent in the rear garden. Thus upon completion of the building work,s her lease was unbroken and she was legally entitled to take tenancy of the new premises.
With the new building came new opportunities and the first and second floors were to be leased to lodgers, as was the custom at the time. Once such gentleman, a Mr Kit Rochfort, originally from Kilcock, was a travelling salesman who took lodgings from Miss Mangan.
The pair duly fell in love and were married with Mr Rochfort then taking over the business. Mr Rochfort was a well liked and able business man who was also a founder of Mullingar Town soccer club in an era where soccer was severely frowned upon.
The Rochforts built up a successful business and eventually the lease on the building passed to one of their employees Miss Katie Mahon who kept the name Rochforts over the door.
Miss Mahon was to continue the shop as was before and the business and premises were eventually bought out by her nephew Tom Nally Snr, originally from Rathconrath, who began the expansion of both into what we see today.
Tom Nally is pictured here at 15 years of age working in Murtagh’s of Ballynacargy where he began his retail career.
From Murtagh’s, Tom moved to Dinny Daly’s in Mullingar, a wholesale and retail store that employed over 30 people on the site where Dealz is located now on Austin Friars St.
Mr Nally recalls that he and his co-workers earned £3 a week with bed and board at that time - but during the Fleadh of 1963 he worked in the adjoining Butler’s pub, earning £13 for the three days. Tom said “We thought we were rich but we earned our money: we were that busy that my feet bled through my socks and we barely got any sleep for the three days.”
From Daly’s, Mr Nally moved to Gunning’s in Rathconrath before he and his wife Sheila were to take over Rochfort’s. The business continues within the family through the couple’s children Tomas and Avril who along with the whole Nally family extend their sincere thanks to the people of Mullingar for their loyal custom to date.
Musical instruments, toys and souvenirs
For a town famed for its musical talent, a surprising fact is that until the Nallys opened their music department, there was no shop in Mullingar selling a comprehensive range instruments.
“People had to go to Athlone or Tullamore or Dublin, so it was in response to that that we expanded into that field,” says Tomás.
It was a timely decision, and the stocking of the store with a range of instruments – from your basic tin whistle, bodhrán and harmonica right up to electric pianos, guitars, percussion, wind and strined instruments - came as Mullingar’s reputation as a breeding ground for creative talent really took off.
“We cater obviously for kids starting off, or your ambitious amateur, but we pitch ourselves equally at those who are at a serious level, including musicians playing professionally,” says Tomás.
Cards
While the shift into musical instruments has reduced the focus on gifts, for Mullingar-specific souvenirs, Rochfort’s is still the place to go – and, of course, they have a great range of greeting cards for all occasions.
“At Christmas we would be known for having really good jigsaws, really good board games, the classic sort of ‘golden oldie’ favourites,” says Tomás.
The toys have always been well-chosen, with a great variety and well-known and respected brand names, and there is a great choice all year around.
Loyal
The family is grateful for the staff they have had down the years: “Some of them have been with us a long time: Lucy Harris has been with us for 46 years,” says Tomás.
“We’ve always tried to be as nice as possible to our customers - and I think that is appreciated, and we’ve been repaid with great loyalty.”
There are a number of customers who have better than average reasons for being grateful that they chose to shop at Rochfort’s: “We’ve had three national lottery winners and several Spin the Wheels. It’s been a very lucky shop,” says Tomás
