Supermarket destroyed in blast back in business

A landmark supermarket in Killarney, Co Kerry, destroyed in a fatal gas explosion almost a year ago, reopened yesterday.

The Gleeson family had been running the town centre shop for more than a century and it was with mixed emotions that they welcomed customers back.

Now in a fourth generation, the business is run by Donagh Gleeson, his wife Patsy, sons Jamie and David, and five other staff.

Mr Gleeson’s brother, James, 59, died in an explosion in a launderette, located in the same building and behind the supermarket, on July 13.

He recalled how his great-grandfather started the business around 1900 and said it would have been a shame to let it go.

“There was never a question of walking away from it,” said Mr Gleeson. “The death of James overshadows everything but, at the end of the day, life goes on and we decided we had to resume business at some stage.”

The Spar supermarket, in College Square, and a number of neighbouring premises were extensively damaged in the early morning blast.

“Our neighbours have been fantastic,” Mr Gleeson said.

“They had to put up with an awful lot of disruption, but there was never a complaint from anybody. We really appreciate the co-operation from other businesses, taxi drivers, who have a rank nearby, and all who helped us.”