Co-Op

Mullagh, Co. Cavan.

Back when I was a kid this place was a hive of activity. Trucks, non-stop, coming and going with their consignments of grain. It was the main commercial entity in the village for many years. 

I remember once when Larry Goodman landed his helicopter here, right in the yard. This was back in the early 80's...he was making shapes to buy the place at the time. Myself and my friend saw the helicopter coming in and ran up the town to see it land.

We must have known he was coming because we had pens and paper with us to try get his autograph. It was wintertime and my friend, in his excitement, slipped on slush on the ground as he ran towards the people exiting the helicopter. His forward momentum kept him sliding along the ground...stopping fortuteously at the feet of Larry Goodman himself.

He got up, brushed himself off as best he could, still covered head to toe in slush (and whatever else he slid through) and handed Goodman a drenched piece of paper to sign his autograph on...good times.

The co-op was never redeveloped during the Celtic tiger years. It has been derelict for many years now, left to decay at one of the main entry points into the town.

There are plans afoot, however, to build a new factory here...hopefully it will bring a welcome shot of new life and vitality back to the top of the town.