Laois Fianna Fáil county councillor closing down shop of 'Bits and Bobs'

After 32 years of working in the secondhand retail trade long before the terms sustainable or circular economy were known, a Laois Fianna Fáil councillor is finally closing up shop.

John Joe’s Bits and Bobs in Mountrath sells anything from office furniture to household ornaments, or as the owner puts it, a needle to an anchor, both new and used. 

It is the business of Cllr John Joe Fennelly from Abbeyleix, who might be retiring from the job, but not from his elected role.

He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live ahead of closing the door for the final time at the end of February.

“My wife Mary is due to retire as well, she is a special needs assistant in Scoil Mhuire national school in Abbeyleix. We have no major plans. I’d like to give extra time to volunteering in Abbeyleix,” said the councillor, who is vice chair of 2023 national winners Abbeyleix Tidy Towns.

He began his career in Portlaoise in a milk cooler business in 1976, later working for over a decade as a machinist in Manchester Tools in Abbeyleix.  He moved to start working for Con Moloney in 1992 in his new and used goods shop, in the old cinema in Mountrath.

John Joe remembers selling a very unusual item, some 25 years ago, that one only hopes was not secondhand.

“We sold a coffin once. I think an undertaker was going out of business. I can’t remember who bought it or why. It was about 25 years ago,” he said.

“We got a review once in a UK interiors magazine. Lads from London were driving through Mountrath and bought a piece of furniture off me,” John Joe said.

In 2009 he took over the business and changed its name.  He later moved it into the former Brackens agri factor unit on the Rushin road. 

“I’ll miss it, absolutely. I loved meeting people and the banter. People come in to buy, sell or exchange things. It’s a haggling game. I’d never get the price I have on the article, that’s always part of the game.

“I put a lot of time into it, it is open five and a half days a week and I’d be always out in the van collecting or delivering. 

“I’m working in Mountrath for 32 years. All the people around here have always been very supportive in fairness. It will probably be a loss for everybody, but it’s time to go. I’m 68. I’ll still represent the people of Portlaoise Municipal District for the next four years.

“It will be nice to get that bit of free time back over the weekends,” he said.

He had just one long term employee, Michael O’Connor who works part-time and will retire too. 

“Myself and Michael are great friends, we’ve had a great time together,” he said.

Strangely despite the rising awareness of thrifting and carbon footprints, demand had fallen.

“It was the circular economy long before people know about things like that. It should be flying it, not declining. It’s because people are buying disposable stuff. Furniture built back in the 50s, 60s and 70s is way far superior quality than what you are buying today. But not a lot of people go for that. 

“A lot of people were buying furniture from me and respraying or painting it but that trend seems to be going as well,” he said.

In his closing down sale, John Joe promises “no reasonable offer refused”. 

Any stock not sold by the end of February, he will donate to local good causes.