Farewell - Gene and Maura Baxter retire after 52 years serving the Mohill community

On Wednesday last, the 22nd May, Gene and Maura Baxter locked up Baxter’s Centra on Station Road for the last time. After 52 years it was time for a new chapter for the Baxter family.

This was not the first time that the Baxter’s embarked on a new adventure, Gene’s parents - Eugene and Bridget Alice and their family left their farm in Drumreilly and bought what was at the time Maguire’s shop on Bridge Street, Mohill in September 1972.

Mohill at the time was a busy, vibrant market town and although it was a big change from their farm in Drumreilly, they all embraced life in the shop and were welcomed by the people of Mohill. They ran it for many years alongside a young and enthusiastic Gene.

Eugene and Bridget Alice enjoyed their time in the shop and were happy to leave it in Gene’s hands in the early 1980’s. Keen to move with the times, Gene could see the potential in joining a retail group and was one of earlier members to join the Centra brand in early 1982.

But an even better partnership was awaiting him, Gene married Maura Gilligan, from Mullies outside Manorhamilton, in June 1982. Maura quickly became an integral part of the business and together they grew the business into what it is today.

As Mohill expanded and evolved, so did the shop at Bridge Street. It went through a series of expansions and updates from 1990’s, until it was necessary to move to a new location on Station Road.

Enda Baxter, Louise Kay, Alison Clyne, Maura and Gene Baxter, Mary Shanley, Shane Kelly (new owner), Ciaran Baxter, Damian Dolan and Mark O'Shea (new manager).

Maura and Gene oversaw the transformation of Huston’s Station (formerly Booth’s Garage) into a new purpose-built shop that opened in 2009.

The shop has always been a family run busy and Maura and Eugene reared their family, Gráinne, Enda and Ciaran there, with everyone working in the shop at one stage or another especially Ciaran and Enda who have been an important part of the business. In recent years their young grandsons have become a familiar sight in the shop also.

Maura, Gene and family have enjoyed every minute of their 50 years in the shop but are happy and looking forward to opening a new chapter in their lives which might not involve quite so many early starts!

Kathleen Farry, Mags Sutherland, Orlaigh Tighe, Mark O'Shea, Saoirse Kellegher, Shane Kelly, Maura and Gene Baxter, Tara Kellegher and Michelle Caulfield.

Times have certainly changed in the 50 years that the Baxter’s have been in the shop in Mohill, seeing a few different changes in currency to seeing people using nearly no cash at all with the introduction of cashless payments.

And there have been many highlights along the way, one being the huge Lotto win by a lucky ticket bought in the shop last August.

Blessed with wonderful local support over the years from both suppliers and customers from Mohill and the surrounding parishes the family found it a pleasure to meet, serve and support the people of Mohill every day.

Mary Flanagan (centre), Postmistress, Mohill Post Office, says farewell to Gene and Maura Baxter as they retired after 52 years in business in Mohill last Wednesday, May 22nd. Also in picture are Ann Reynolds (left) and Eileen Abbott (right) both post office staff members. Mary would like to thank Gene and Maura for all their help and advice since moving the post office into Baxter's Centra.

They look forward to continuing to be part of the community they love. They would also like to thank all those in Musgraves, Centra, for their professionalism, support and advice in the 40 years that they have been with them.

As the Baxter family call it a day on shop life, they remain appreciative of the hard work and dedication of staff past and present - without whom it would not have been possible. They were very much part of the family.

While it was a big decision to say goodbye to the shop, knowing that it would be in safe hands certainly helped and the Baxter family would like to wish Shane Kelly and staff every success in the future.

Handing over the keys! Gene Baxter hands over the keys to new owner Shane Kelly last Wednesday. Also in photo are Mark O'Shea, Store Manager, and Maura Baxter.