Irish fashion families unite to resurrect Irish retail landmark
17:06, Mon 19 Jul 2010
Press Release July 19th, 2010
McElhinney Fashions in Athboy re-opens.
Irish fashion families unite to resurrect Irish retail landmark McElhinney Fashions of Athboy will re-open on Monday July 26th 2010 under a new concession agreement that involves two of Irelands most established fashion families, the Barrons and the Sweeneys.
The famous Irish retail landmark will continue to trade as it has for the past 73 years and to provide its renowned wide range of day wear and special occasion labels to its customers nationwide. McElhinney Fashions will continue to be run day to day by the McElhinneys with the assistance of the Flairline Group. The 56 staff who lost their jobs last month will return to work when the store re-opens next week.
“We have given a commitment to Mary and Neal Sweeney, daughter and grandson of founder Molly McElhinney who started the business back in 1937 to restore McElhinney Fashions to its former glory” said Robert Barron of Flairline “and we look forward to making good on that promise”.
The ledgendary McElhinney team and the Flairline Group look forward to welcoming both new and exsiting customers into the store. The re-opening will co-incide with a monster sale on Monday July 26th @ 9.30 am before the arrival of new autumn / winter 2010 lines.
Flairline, the Irish fashion company who runs the Richard Alan, Pamela Scott, Ashley Reeves and Lisa Perkins fashion outlets nationwide will assist and contribute to the management of the famous store providing backroom support and retail expertise to the McElhinney team. Flairline have 23 stores operating in Ireland and the company is owned and run by the Barron family.
Flairline also operates a fashion distrubution business to approx 300 Irish boutique retailers in Fashion City M50 Business Park Dublin 24. Founder Sean Barron, who established the group in 1970 remains at the helm and he is joined in the boardroom by his four sons John, Richard, Robert and Scott.
McElhinney Fashions had closed in early June owing to difficulties in financing its way through the economic downturn.
“I’m delighted to embrace this new partnership with The Flairline Group to provide our customers with the excellent service and quality brands they have come to expect of McElhinneys of Athboy" said Neal Sweeney
Further Press Information
(Flairline): Liz Flynn, Flynn Communications (01) 872 7430 : (087) 681 5448
Further Press Information
(McElhinneys): Neal Sweeney, CEO, McElhinney Fashions Main Street, Athboy Co. Meath (046) 943 2112 (087) 258 7087
