Village people: 1. Charlie Chawke and Nicola Williams; 2. Grainne Murphy and Cyril McAree; 3. Johnny and Maeve Plower. (Pix. Kieran Harnett)
The Upper Baggot Street area of Dublin is synonymous with writers and artists and now too as a dynamic and thriving hub of retail businesses and professional services supported by financial institutions. Traders in the area hosted a celebratory dinner at the beautiful Dylan Hotel to launch their newly formed Association.
Proving a long established fact that opening a new business during a recession is not only possible but successful, the last year has seen more than a dozen new businesses open in this historic area, and enjoying successful trading, bucking a national trend. Along with existing businesses reporting an upsurge in trade, a small group of traders and business decided to form an Association calling it The Village at Upper Baggot Street to help strengthen and unify activities and services to benefit all traders which in turn benefits the locale and its customers.
Special guest at the inaugural dinner is Charlie Chawke who has reopened Searson's which lay vacant for over a year. Charlie had previously bid on the establishment some 20 years ago so this is a personal and business win for him.
Association chairperson Nicola Williams of Bergins auctioneers is supported in her efforts by a panel of representatives from the area, including Karen Kirby, of AIB, Oonagh O'Hagan of Meaghers Chemists, Catherine Doyle of Donnybrook Fair, Róisín Ní Mhórdha of Impression PR, and Maeve Brocklesby of Weirs.
