Alex McCarthy, Mary McCarthy, Fergus McCarthy, Award Winner; Deputy County Mayor Cllr. James O’Connor; Carla McCarthy, Amanda Collins, Killian Schafer, Denise O’Mahoney, Claire Curtin and Annenarie Kenneally.Talbot Collection Cork Community, Business and Sports Awards; Monthly recipient; Fergus McCarthy of McCARTHY NEWS, Midleton held in Midleton Park Hotel
Award Sponsors AIB Midleton & AIB Ballincollig
The December 2019 winner of the Talbot Collection Cork Community, Business and Sports Awards is Mr. Fergus McCarthy of McCarthy News, a family business which has been trading at 43 Main Street of Midleton since 1960. This month’s award falls under the Business and Community Award category.
The Awards Scheme is sponsored by the Talbot Collection Cork along with Award Sponsors AIB Midleton & Ballincollig and Media Partners RedFM.
January 2019 winners were the Ballincollig Intermediate Hurling Team followed by Neil Sargent, founder of the Midleton Karate Club in February and Women’s Single Sculls World Champion Sanita Puspure in March. In April, Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Paul Townend was honoured in his home town of Midleton with the Sports Award and in May the Award went to the Ballincollig Business Association. In June the award went to the organisers of the very successful Ironman Ireland Event which took place in Youghal, The Irish Guide Dogs to the Blind received the July Award at Oriel House Hotel, Ms. Sal Tivy Perks of the legendary Perks Funfair received the August Award at Midleton Park Hotel. Captain of the All Ireland winning U20 Cork Football Team Peter O’Driscoll received the September Award at Oriel House Hotel, Whitegate Rowing Club received the October Award for their achievements on the water and last month Spike Island Manager John Crotty received the November Award at Oriel House Hotel.
The McCarthy name first went over the door of 43 Main Street on December 1st 1960. In residence were owners Eamon & Mary McCarthy and their first daughter Catherine.
Eamon had already worked in retail on the street for many years and had already opened his first shop at 25 Main Street but when the larger property came on the market at 43, the recently married couple set about making it both home and a business.
Originally a grocery shop with a printing business out the back, in the late 70s Eamon & Mary bought the building next door next door and over the years the business expanded into newsagents and toys. When Eamon retired, the grocery closed and with Mary at helm, the newsagents moved to 43 and the toy side was expanded in 42.
At this point their youngest son Fergus had joined the staff eventually taking over years later upon Mary’s retirement. Slowly the business continues to change and albeit small, it is very much an established landmark in the town.
Over the years Fergus has been involved in many community groups to one degree or another such as Midleton Traders Association, Midleton & Area Chamber of Commerce, Midleton Flood Committee, Midleton Food & Drinks Festival (now FEAST), St. Patrick’s Day committee, Midleton Arts Festival etc.
In recent years he found himself involved in Midleton Christmas Lights and when the previous lights came to the end of their lives, he set up a committee to set about buying new lights and decorations for the town. Every light had to be replaced and thousands of euro raised, a mammoth task. This required huge community buy-in but the people of Midleton were not found wanting. Cork County Council, Midleton & Area Chamber, business owners, schools, Midleton Men’s Shed and countless individuals assisted the hard working committee along the way. The result has been a huge success.
Fergus McCarthy and McCarthy News are very worthy recipients of the Talbot Community & Business Award.
Picture: by Gerard Bonus
