‘End of an Era’: Local shopkeepers retire after decades of service in Limerick village

There were emotional scenes in Killeedy on Saturday as hundreds of parishioners turned out to bid farewell to Mike and Margaret Keating, who have officially retired from running Keating’s Spar, the much loved local shop that has served as the heartbeat of the village for decades.

The Keating family’s connection to the shop stretches back over 70 years, beginning in 1953, when Margaret’s mother first opened its doors. Margaret began working there as a child and, together with Mike, took over the running of the store in the early 1980s. Between them, they have been a constant presence in community life for over four decades, greeting generations of locals with warmth, humour, and kindness.

On Saturday evening, the community centre car park opposite the shop was filled with family, friends, and neighbours who gathered to mark the occasion. Local parish priest Fr Keating led a special blessing for the couple, praising their dedication and the vital role the shop played in the social fabric of the parish. He commended the pair for their “decades of service, friendship, and care” and wished them every happiness in their retirement.

An emotional Mike Keating thanked everyone for their support over the years, saying it had been “an honour to serve the people of Killeedy, in the happy times of communions, confirmations, and weddings, and the sad times when someone from the parish passed away.” He added that working in the shop had brought him nothing but joy and friendship, describing his customers as “more like friends than anything else.”

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In his speech, Mike reflected on the many years spent behind the counter alongside Margaret. He paid tribute to the generations of staff who had worked there, many of them from the local area, who he said, "helped make the shop what it was."

While Saturday marked the end of an era for the Keating family, the shop will remain open, as Paul Collins from Athea is set to take over the premises, converting the Spar into an XL, similar to his own store in Athea. Keeping the Keating legacy alive, Mike Keating Jnr will continue working in the business, ensuring the family’s long-standing connection to the shop remains.

As the evening drew to a close, the Keatings turned the key in the door of Keating’s Spar for the last time, marking not just the close of a chapter, but the beginning of a well-earned retirement for the pair.