Her Majesty declines offer of complimentary ‘rig out’

THE queen told a century-old family fashion retailer in Cork city that since her schedule was fully booked, she would not be able to accept the kind offer of a complimentary outfit as a memento of the trip.

Godsils, located about 100 metres from the English Market, which the queen will visit tomorrow, is now displaying the queen’s letter, which declines the offer kindly and wishes the business well in its 100th year.

Fearghal Kenneally, marketing manager of the shop, said they extended the queen a warm welcome to the city and offered her a complimentary “rig out” .

“Last Monday we received a letter back from the queen thanking us for the warm welcome and invitation. Unfortunately, she informed us that her schedule was fully booked and she would not be able to visit us,” he said.

Mr Kenneally said the queen thanked them for the offer of the complimentary outfit, as well as wishing them well in their centenary year.

“The letter is now on display in the shop and is causing quite a stir with our customers.

“They are all delighted with her visit and the fact that we invited her to our shop,” Mr Kenneally said.

Owned by Jane Young, Godsils has been family-owned and run for the last 100 years and Ms Young is the fourth generation to run the family business.

Mr Kenneally pointed out that Godsils opened the year the last British Monarch visited Ireland — George V in 1911 — and has been in business ever since.

“Since George V was here, the business has endured a war of independence, a civil war, multiple waves of emigration and last year’s terrible floods in the city centre. Right now, we are doing our very best to survive the current recession,” Mr Kenneally said.