REGGIE HODGINS, AGE 84, NENAGH

Reggie Hodgins’ grandfather opened a merchant’s shop in Nenagh in 1880. He married a girl from Kerry, and eventually handed the business over to his son, who continued to trade very successfully. Much of the first part of this interview covers Reggie’s time spent in boarding school (St. Columbanus College) to which he was sent at the age of 12, in 1935. He returned to Nenagh to take over from his father in 1940. The business continued until its closure in 1991. In his grandfather’s and father’s time, the staff lived over the premises, as did his uncle, a solicitor, who ran his business there. Reggie never spent much time in the shop as he said his time was dedicated to the Nenagh Harriers, and fishing on the lake at Dromineer. The interview also focused on his great success in horse dealing. Finally, we looked around both the interior and exterior of his historic home, and spoke about its history.