CELEBRATIONS are underway for well-known Letterkenny businessman James Grieve as he marks his 80th birthday today.
James, who is a native of the Cullion Road, is best known locally for operating his garage in the heart of Letterkenny for the past 55 years.
Born in 1945 to Mary and James Grieve, James attended Lurgybrack National School before moving on to the ‘Tech’, where he pursued training as an auto electrician.
He secured his first job at Ted Cox’s at 14-years-old, later working at the Lough Swilly Bus Company before taking the leap and opening his own business.
Situated on the Church Lane back in those days, you’d think given the location business would be booming.
But for James, things were slow.
“Business was very slow in 1970,” he said.
“I started out as an auto electrician shop at that time, and in 1972 I bought my first machine in England, brand new, at £3,400.
“Everyone thought I was mad in the head.
“But I kept going.”
Continuously learning as his career progressed, James picked up everything there was to know about engines, crankshaft grinding and engine reconditioning.
“The Main Street was full of businesses at that stage,” he said.
“There is a big difference in the town now.”
In 1988, James relocated the garage to Crievesmith beside the family home, a move that worked in his favour.
“People could come here handier than going through the town,” he said.
The hard-working local, who is grateful for the continued support of his customers over the years, is still going strong, even though his son Joe has taken over the reins.
In fact, I’m fairly sure James’ birthday plans involved getting his hands dirty in the garage.
But there is much more to the man behind the peaked cap than meets the eye.
James met his wife Bridie at the Fiesta Ballroom, and they have now been married for 57 years.
James and Bridie Grieve are pictured with their parents on their wedding day.
As they say, behind every great man is a great woman. And I’m not being biased just because I am talking about my granny and granda!
Together, they had four children, two boys and two girls, Martin, Lorraine, Brenda and Joe.
This would soon see the family grow even more with the arrival of grandchildren and even a great-grandchild.
In his downtime, James has always had a great passion for music, dating back to his days playing bass guitar in The Blue Eagles.
Alongside his bandmates Joey McDaid, TJ McNamee, Danny McNamee and George Hunter, the local lads were known in every corner of the county for their rock and roll.
Playing their biggest gigs at the Fiesta, James recalled performing as support for big names like The Royal Showband, Dickie Rock, and Eileen Reid, among others.
Members of the The Blue Eagles James Grieve, George Hunter, TJ McNamee, Danny McNamee and Joey McDaid.
James is the definition of a proud Letterkenny man and has devoted much of his time over the years to supporting the community.
One example of this is the 16 years he spent as Chair of the Letterkenny Accordion Band.
Throughout that time, they were crowned All Ireland Champions in Belfast seven times in a row.
“That was all thanks to the late Jim Canning,” James said.
James was also heavily involved in the Letterkenny International Folk Festival for a whopping 18 years.
There, he oversaw the parades on Saturdays and the band competitions on Sundays.
“I enjoyed it,” James said.
“Every minute of it.”
