End of an era as Margaret cashes out after 46 years with Penneys, Carlow
Margaret Quirke (centre), who is retiring after 46 years with Penneys in Carlow, pictured with some of her work colleagues Photos; Michael O'Rourke Photography
IT WAS a bittersweet day at Penneys as beloved staff member Margaret Quirke said goodbye, retiring after 46 years.
Adorned with a tiara and sash, Margaret enjoyed the celebrations last Thursday, 29 October. But she couldn’t really believe it was her last day.
“It feels like it’s just a long weekend,” she joked.
Margaret spent almost all of her working life in Penneys in Carlow town. She recalls coming to work in a pencil skirt and heels. “At 18, it was the fashion,” she said. “I wasn’t always 65!”
Margaret has created something of a family dynasty. Standing by her side as many customers gave her their best wishes for the future was her sister Anita, daughter Lorna and niece Jade.
Lorna said she would miss her mother dearly. “I worked with her for 23 years,” she said. “We had lunch together every day.” More than a few dozen staff members scrapped their usual blue uniforms for the day. Instead, they wore shirts with Margaret’s face splashed across them and which read: .
“She’s the life and soul of the place,” remarked Jade. “She’s seen it all.”
Margaret admitted that she had seen many staff passing through, having trained most of them. She said there wasn’t much they could surprise her with before she headed off.
“I know the drill,” she said about her send-off. “But I’ll act surprised and play the part.”
Margaret isn’t so sure what her retirement is going to look like, but she is excited to enjoy the run up to Christmas. It is the first time in nearly 50 years that she won’t be working over the holiday period. She said she is looking forward to a glass of wine and a Christmas movie in the evenings, rather than a frantic race to the big day.
Her manager, Sandra, referred to Margaret as the “fold queen” and said she knew exactly what clothes her regulars would love. “Even though it is corporate, it’s still personal with the customers,” said Margaret.
Margaret and the other 98 employees topped off the celebrations at Jimmy D’s pub in Bagenalstown, sending her off with one final hurrah.
