By Tara McCormack
THIS Saturday will mark the end of an era at the foot of the town in Letterkenny as Paddy Gildea of Gildea Farm Butchers pulls the shutter for the final time.
After nearly 13 years of dedicated service to his loyal customers, Paddy has made the difficult decision to close the shop, citing rising costs across rent, wages, and electricity.
For the 72-year-old, it’s a bittersweet conclusion to a lifelong journey that began on two wheels and, fittingly, ends with the very same.
“I started butchering on January 3, 1967,” Paddy told the Donegal News.
His journey, which began on a bicycle with his cousin Jimmy Gildea, who passed away last month, has been marked by hard work, resilience, and a deep connection to the local community.
“We started in Doherty ‘s together in 1967, coming in on two old bikes.”
With over five decades in the meat trade, Paddy’s career has been a testament to hard work, dedication, and deep-rooted connections within his community.
From his early days at the Bacon Factory on Pearse Road to managing the meat department at SuperValu, Paddy has seen it all.
Alongside the late Pauric Mc Groarty, who managed the grocery side of SuperValu, and through his time running a mobile butcher shop with his close friend ‘Chud’ Duddy, Paddy has forged bonds with both customers and colleagues that have stood the test of time.
“Sean Boner and myself and ‘Chud’ Duddy, we went to Carrick, Kilcar, and Glencolumbkille,” Paddy recalled their days on the road, bringing fresh cuts to loyal customers in the 80s and 90s.
The camaraderie they built, both with each other and with the communities they served, is something Paddy cherishes.
Throughout his career, he has witnessed the unwavering loyalty of Donegal’s people.
“That time, people were very loyal, they’d be waiting on the van coming,” he said, reflecting on the days when the sight of his butcher van was a welcome event.
But with the closure of his beloved Gildea Farm Butchers on the horizon, Paddy faces the hard reality of rising costs that have made running a small business unsustainable.
When sharing the news to his regulars, emotions ran high. “Two customers, one was very, very sad, the other one was crying,” Paddy shared.
“They are very, very loyal people, you know. They don’t all come from Letterkenny—they come from everywhere.”
Though the physical store will close, Paddy’s connection to his customers and community remains strong.
His mobile butcher van will continue to operate at the Letterkenny Artisan Market on Saturdays, where he looks forward to greeting familiar faces and maintaining the relationships he’s built over the years.
As Paddy prepares to embark on a new chapter in life, he is eager to spend more time with his family, especially his seven grandchildren—two of whom are following in the family’s sporting tradition, playing football for Glenswilly.
While the shutter will soon come down on the shop, the legacy of loyalty and community that Paddy has cultivated will endure.
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