Popular Offaly butcher closing shop today after 53 years in business

TULLAMORE butcher Christy Tormey has decided to retire after 53 years in business.

His popular butcher shop, CR Tormey at Bridge Street in the town, will close today (Saturday, July 1).

Now 68, Christy will continue farming and while the Tullamore shop is closing, two butcher shops run by his brothers, one in Mullingar and and another in Galway, will continue to trade.

The CR Tormey business was originally established in 1943 by Christy's father and grew to become one of the best known butchers in the region, developing a reputation for top quality meat products.

The family farm at Loughnagore in Kilbeggan was renowned across the entire agricultural community.

Christy says the premises in Tullamore will be leased but it is not yet known if it will continue as a butcher shop.

Christy is married to the well known country singer, Larissa Tormey, and they announced the closure in a social media post.

“We would like to thank all of our loyal customers and our wonderful staff for your support throughout the years,” they said.

The announcement prompted numerous tributes with one saying: “Best wishes on your retirement Christy. CR Tormey were always leaders in the trade. I always admired the cleanliness in the shop especially at night. Everything was shining before the shop closed. Sorry to see such an institution in Tullamore closing.”

Another wrote: “I'm really sorry to hear this. The quality of meat was so good that for close to 30 years, I've been buying meat in Tormey's whenever I visited Tullamore to bring home with me to Waterford and then Limerick. There's nowhere like it and you'll be missed.”

A third said: “Enjoy your retirement you will be missed, great quality meats for many years in Tullamore, as a child it was the only butchers my mother would use.”