Photos: An t-Sean Bheairic: Ionad Cuartaíochta an Fháil Charraigh
Remarkable Dunfanaghy woman Mary McAuliffe turned 104 years young this month with wonderful community celebrations.
Mary, of Kill, born on January 31, 1921, is a fashion pioneer of the North West of Donegal, having owned a shop in the heart of Dunfanaghy from the age of 18.
Mary celebrated her birthday in style on Saturday 1st February with friends and family at An tSean Bheairic in Falcarragh, with celebrations also taking place at Falcarragh Community Hospital.
Mary and her sister Gretta (97) were fashion influencers before the phrase was ever coined, helping ladies of the locality look and feel their best.
The business began with their mother, Cassie Sweeney, who opened a small drapers shop in Falcarragh back in 1920. The shop mainly sold household items and other essentials.
When Cassie died, Mary took over the business and developed the shop by introducing stylish clothing and renaming it ‘Sweeney’s Fashion House’.
Mary’s sister, Gretta, was sent to Dublin to study fashion design. Gretta had her own label, called Glenveagh, which was built on her love of Donegal-made fabric, particularly tweed.
After she married pharmacist Jack Mc Auliffe, Mary began trialling a pop-up shop in Dunfanaghy before eventually moving her entire business over in 1969. She worked alongside Jack and his chemist for many years in what was known as the ‘Tweed & Fashion Shop.’
After Jack and Mary retired, their daughter, Anne, took over the business, and it eventually became ‘Mc Auliffe’s Craft Shop’. Last year, after 40 fulfilling years, Anne announced her retirement and the closure of the business.
A heritage stone now sits at ‘Sweeney’s Corner’ in Falcarragh to mark the place where Cassie Sweeney opened her shop, paving the way for the beginnings of a 100+ year family-run business.
