Ireland’s most northerly shop is in danger of hitting rock bottom.
The Curiosity Shop in Malin Head is easily the country’s most northerly shop.
The shop, which sells all sorts of bric-a-brac including old coins, plates and other souvenirs, has been open for the past eight years.
Owner Peter McAvenue says the shop started off as a hobby but is now a “disease.”
However Peter, from Esky Bay, Malin Head, says the shop is becoming more and more just a labour of love.
“It’s getting harder and harder. People come and have a look when they are passing but less and less are spending any money.
“It’s down to two things. The recession certainly hasn’t helped but minimalism hasn’t helped – people don’t want little things cluttering up their house,” he said.
The fantastic shop is covered wall-to-wall in every type of bric-a brac including pictures or Arthur Guinness, unusual wine bottle openers and old posters.
Over the past eight years many well-known faces have called in to have a look around The Curiosity Shop.
RTE personalities Mike Murphy, Gay Byrne and Mary Kennedy all had a look around.
“Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley Junior also called in – but obviously not together,” laughed Peter.
“A lot of people travel as far as Bamba’s Crown which is the tip of Malin Head and they have to pass the shop so a lot of them call in,” he added.
Peter also acts as an unofficial tour guide for the local tourist authority, Inishowen Tourism, and stocks all sorts of brochures for things to see and do across the Peninsula.
So the next time you’re visiting Malin Head, call into The Curiosity Shop.
And don’t just be curious – buy a little something as well!!
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