Williams Shop in Dripsey
Interview with Margaret Baker, December 2007 as recorded in River Lee Valley Stories (81) by Kieran McCarthy
“I remember going down to Williams’s Shop in Lower Dripsey as a young child. They sold everything, shoe leather, wool, sewing material, groceries, oil, petrol, meat and fish. If they hadn’t an item in stock it would be ordered from Cork City. The haberdashery was on the right side of the shop with a copper measuring tape running at the inner edge of the counter for measuring cloth and ribbons. This is where they kept ladies nylons, socks, handkerchiefs and all kinds of knick-knacks. And they had a small wood stove in the centre by the wall. On the other counter at the back end they had a large meat slicer that was always spotlessly clean and shining and well serviced. Bill was the only one allowed to use or clean it for security reasons. In the centre of that counter they had a huge metal scoop for weighing flour. The flour was put into the scoop and the appropriate heavy metal weights were put on the platform to weight it.
Further on there was a shining scale for weighing tea and sugar and sweets. The weight was displayed at both sides for staff and customer to see. Next to the scales stood tall shining glass jars holding: bulls eyes, lozenges, glassy mints, fruit drops and liquorice allsorts. They had a back room where a large cupboard was kept to store meat and perishable products. It had a screen covering each end to protect the food. There was no electricity at that time.
At Christmas time the shop was decorated and one of the big windows in front had a real pig’s head decorated with an apple in its mouth. At night wooden shutters were put on both windows. Inside the other window Bill very often sat on a high stool behind a partition doing the ‘books’ and from time to time peered out over his glasses to provide help or information. My brothers and I all served our time there learning to order, weigh and label food and other merchandise and, of course serving customers. We did this on Saturdays and summer holidays.
I remember tourists coming into the shop and remember it was in the heart of the countryside. But they were met by a family who were able to hold a conversation on any topic worldwide. They had an excellent command of the English language and were knowledgeable, eloquent and articulate. They were dignified, a little bit reserved, hard working and honest but also had a great sense of humour”.
Further on there was a shining scale for weighing tea and sugar and sweets. The weight was displayed at both sides for staff and customer to see. Next to the scales stood tall shining glass jars holding: bulls eyes, lozenges, glassy mints, fruit drops and liquorice allsorts. They had a back room where a large cupboard was kept to store meat and perishable products. It had a screen covering each end to protect the food. There was no electricity at that time.
At Christmas time the shop was decorated and one of the big windows in front had a real pig’s head decorated with an apple in its mouth. At night wooden shutters were put on both windows. Inside the other window Bill very often sat on a high stool behind a partition doing the ‘books’ and from time to time peered out over his glasses to provide help or information. My brothers and I all served our time there learning to order, weigh and label food and other merchandise and, of course serving customers. We did this on Saturdays and summer holidays.
I remember tourists coming into the shop and remember it was in the heart of the countryside. But they were met by a family who were able to hold a conversation on any topic worldwide. They had an excellent command of the English language and were knowledgeable, eloquent and articulate. They were dignified, a little bit reserved, hard working and honest but also had a great sense of humour”.
Williams Garage, mid 20th century, character on right unknown
Bill Williams and his mother Mary on holiday in Gap of Dunloe, Kerry on 3 June 1914
Bill Williams on boat, standing up, c.1920
Ruins of Williams Petrol Pumps, Lower Dripsey, 2007
