‘Devastated’ butcher calls for more help for SMEs as ends family trade of 138 years

A fifth-generation butcher, who is also a government party councillor, ceased trading last night — ending his family’s almost 140-year involvement in the trade.

Fine Gael Cork city councillor Des Cahill, who ran Cahill’s Butchers in Ballintemple, Cork, said he was devastated by the decision, but had no option.

“It’s been 23 years of my life. The last three years have been just awful. I am shattered and devastated — there is something surreal about the whole thing. But you have to take account of the economic realities and not be emotional about it. A tough financial week reduces your emotional attachment.

“And it becomes very black and white when you’re in a tough spot.”

He served his last customers last night and shut the business, with the loss of four jobs.

He called for a Government review of the commercial rates system to support indigenous small businesses, and criticised the Government’s “trickle- down” mantra to spread the effects of economic recovery.

“The term ‘trickle down’ is offensive — it’s almost like scraps off the table,” he said. “It trivialises it for me. These aren’t just shops. They are families — four in my case.”

Mr Cahill, 44, a married father of two children under 12, said his fate is in the hands of Bank of Scotland. Pending its decisions over the next fortnight, he faces either bankruptcy or insolvency.

His family has been in the butcher trade for 138 years.

His great-great grand uncle Mathew Olden leased a butcher stall in the city’s English Market in 1875.

His parents ran a butcher shop on Princes St; he opened his own shop in Ballintemple in 1991 and founded a catering company. At its peak, he employed 14 people full-time.

He traced the source of his difficulties to a catering contract a decade ago which left him with a debt of €110,000 which he carried on his butcher shop business.

“That was the beginning of the end,” he said.

When recession struck, the butcher shop sales fell up to 40% and, combined with the credit crunch, spelt the end.

Bank of Scotland recently rejected his restructuring proposal and his final appeal was rejected two weeks ago.

He praised his staff and loyal customers for their support over the years.

“The staff went above and beyond for me over the last six months. I can’t emphasis what a difference that made. And the customer loyalty we had was great. That’s going to be the thing I will miss the most. But sleep hasn’t been easy for the last three years and health-wise, the whole thing was beginning to take its toll.

“I will use my experience to bring home to politicians the reality on the ground. There are a lot of people on the edge.

“I am not on my own — I’m one of thousands in the country going through something similar.”