'Nowadays the instruments wouldn't keep me going' Anthem Music's gamer side

This Christmas the Leinster Express / Laois Live is asking Laois shops that traditionally do well in the festive retail period, how business is going for them this year.

Halfway down Portlaoise Main Street is a mecca for musicians, Anthem Music.  It is filled with all kinds of musical instruments and paraphernalia.

There is also a very unexpected section, for tabletop gaming fans.

The proprietor is Tom Byrne from Carlow who opened his shop on the spot 28 years ago.

He now sells mainly starter instruments, from drumkits, keyboards and electric guitars to banjos and concertinas, with a Tanglewood guitar at around €1,000 the most expensive instrument he would sell.

“People put deposits on things months in advance. There wouldn’t be a market in Laois for the top guitars like Fender Stratocasters. 

Tom Byrne outside his store Anthem Music in Portlaoise.

“Christmas is very busy, it always is. So far it’s much the same, it’s hard to know yet. I sell to parents, to comhaltas groups, to schools, the prison. Guitars are my biggest seller. Electric guitars are very popular with girls in recent years," Tom told Laois Live.

In years past he sold CDs, tapes and albums but as the online music market took hold, he dropped that range.

Instead Tom has gone down a specialist route, choosing Warhammer, an international tabletop battle gaming product, selling a full range of the tiny figurines as well as the craft paints for them.

“Nowadays the music instruments wouldn’t keep me going, because of online competition. I don’t sell online. I sell mostly to Laois customers. I thought about stocking up on vinyl now that it’s popular again but you’d have to have everything in stock. 

“So I went with Warhammer instead three years ago. It’s a tabletop game with model figurines. It’s a niche market, I’m the only one in Leinster, people come and play the games on a table here. It’s between a quarter and a third of my income now,” Tom said.

He has one employee, Rob Quinn (pictured) who plays with Laois band Transmitter. 

“It’s my hobby as well as my business. I’m coming up to retirement age but I’ve no plans to retire. A lot of people depend on me for bits and pieces,” Tom said.

Anthem Music is open six days a week, including this Christmas Eve.