A taskforce is to be set up to examine ways of ensuring one of the county’s best-known businessmen does not go to the wall.
Danny Lafferty (foreground) ponders the future as he receives huge support from locals in Creeslough
Up to 500 people gathered in Creeslough last night to show their support for businessman Danny Lafferty and to try and save 40 jobs locally.
Mr Lafferty’s firm has gone into examinership and he now has less than 100 days to save his business which includes the Corncutter’s Rest bar, Vivo supermarket and Shell Service station.
Locals have expressed fears that the closure of Mr Lafferty’s business interests will mean the death of the economic life of the north Donegal village.
A huge crowd turned up at the Massinass Hall last night, many being forced to stand outside, to examine ways of keeping the businesses sustainable.
The meeting heard that many village businesses across Donegal are hanging on by a thread.
The meeting heard that if Creeslough went under then other villages like Dunfanaghy, Termon and Carrigart could follow soon.
Mr Lafferty, 60, who has been working in the family business since he was 17, said a combination of factors has led his company into entering examinership
“I don’t want to sound like I am complaining but it is a combination of factors which has resulted in my business being where it is today.
“I cannot compete with the multi-nationals and neither can any small shop in rural Ireland today.
“On top of that you have rising rates and costs and it is just getting more difficult all the time,” he said.
However, Mr Lafferty received a huge standing ovation when he told those gathered that he will not go down without a fight.
Among those who turned up to support the Creeslough businessman were public represenatatives Pearse Doherty TD (SF), MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF), Senator Briain O’Domhnaill (FF) and Colrs David Alcorn (FF) and Seamus O’Domhnaill (FF).
Each public representative appealed to people present to back Mr Lafferty by shopping locally and to ensure the heart of rural Ireland – the local village – continues to survive and thrive.
The meeting heard that Mr Lafferty is being helped in his bid to beat his financial woes by Fanad accountant Sean Kerr.
Mr Kerr appealed to people to spend a little more in Lafferty’s businesses to save the business but also to protect the jobs which were there because of it.
The Lafferty family business has been part of the fabric of life in Creeslough since 1906.
Mr Lafferty and his business featured heavily in the best-selling novel ‘No News At Throat Lake’ by author Lawrence Donegan.
Mr Lafferty said he was proud to be part of the community-led initiative but didn’t know whether it could come in time to save his business saying he wished he was 40 years younger.
“The business has been in Creeslough for over 100 years and we have been given 100 days to save it.
“It won’t be for a lack of trying and the support we have received. All we can do is to try our best,” he said.
Former county councillor and businessman Noel McGinley said he was shocked and dismayed by the situation Mr Lafferty found himself in.
“We’re all guilty in these hard times of looking for the best value and sometime or other we are going to have to say stop and look locally,” he said.
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