Horan's Pork Shop shuts doors for final time

Iconic Athlone business Horan's Pork Shop officially shut its doors for the final time on Christmas Eve, December 24.

The award-winning shop, which specialised in locally-sourced pork and home-cured ham and bacon, has been a staple in The Bawn area of the town since 1949.

In October of this year, operators of Horan's Pork Shop, local brothers Mark and Brian Earley, and their colleague Fergie Jameson, made a statement which said the business was no longer viable in the changing landscape of the town.

In a statement confirming their final closure on Tuesday, December 24, the operators wrote: "Well that's a wrap. It's been a roller coaster of a journey but we finish up with smiles all round.

"We would like to thank our families for all their support and love they have shown us throughout our journey in the shop. The customers are the ones who kept this shop open and to you all we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We have made life long friends through the shop."

Horan's is the most recent in a series of family-run Athlone businesses to announce their closure this year.

The Corner House Bistro, James Blacoe Jewellers and Behan's Fruit and Veg have all shut down in 2024, while long-running travel agent Grenham Travel is also closing for good.