Popular Offaly woman's life fondly recalled as her former shop is renovated

A MUCH-LIKED and popular Offaly woman, who passed away many years ago, was remembered this week by a number of local people as her former shop is currently undergoing a renovation.

Violet Doolin used to run a Drapery shop at Number 36 / 37 Market Square Birr and she also worked as a librarian for many years in Birr Library.

Violet was Librarian at Birr library from 1942 - 1991. One of her many legacies to Birr town was to have a cross erected on the site of the Workhouse burial ground. This cross still stands at the site.

A grand-niece of Violet's, Amanda Martin, said she and her father were delighted to see Violet's former shop being renovated after many years of lying empty. They were also very pleased to see the building's characterful facade being carefully restored.

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“My Dad told us many stories about Violet,” remarked Amanda. “She was a real lady. Dad told me that after leaving school she lived in Dublin for a while but returned home when her mother became unwell. She began working in her parents' drapery store on Market Square. A talented musician, she also started running a piano school in the same premises.”

Violet married Mick Forrester and they lived in the drapery premises, known as “Doolin's The Arcade,” for many years. They had no children. Mick's brother Eddie also lived in the building.

Violet was a librarian in Birr Library, then located on John's Mall in the former Presbyterian Church (built in 1885 and now a funeral home) for 49 years.

“Curiously enough,” remarked Amanda, “she was always, technically speaking, referred to as a 'temporary employee' in the library throughout those years! At one stage she also had the opportunity to buy the library building for £300 but she decided not to avail of it.”

During her working life Violet also worked for a period of time in Mineral Water on Emmet St in admin and purchasing.

Well read, musical, kind and unassuming, and hard working, there was much in Violet's approach to life which younger generations could learn from.

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