STILL struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss of his only brother, after a lethal gas blast ripped through their adjoining premises, Killarney businessman Donagh Gleeson yesterday paid tribute to his sibling as he reopened the convenience store which has been in his family for four generations.
James Gleeson was killed last July when an early morning gas leak sparked a massive explosion as he arrived to open the launderette he had operated for close on 40 years.
The premises run by the 59-year-old married father-of-one was located on Brewery Lane, at the rear of Donagh’s College Square grocery store, which was also destroyed in the tragedy that stunned the town.
Several nearby business premises were extensively damaged and terrified residents in overhead apartments had to scramble to safety through debris and mayhem.
It has taken almost a full year for Gleeson’s convenience store to be rebuilt but this week marked a bitter-sweet occasion for the family as they unveiled their impressive new-look Spar store.
It was a particularly poignant day for Donagh Gleeeson, his wife Patsy, and their family as they opened a new chapter in the their lives but they must do so without their beloved James by their side.
“The tragedy of the explosion and the death of my brother overshadows everything but at the end of the day, life goes on and we decided that business had to resume,” said Donagh whose parents and grandparents ran the store before him since 1900.
He paid a warm tribute to other businesses and their neighbours and friends for the magnificent support they have given the family since the horrific events of last July.
“They have been marvellous. They put up with an awful lot of disruption and there was never a gripe or a complaint from anybody,” said Donagh.
He paid particular tribute to close neighbours Pauline O’Shea, Bridget and Tim O’Leary, Christine Cooper and the local taxi drivers, who operate from the nearby rank, for their support.
Parish priest Fr Kieran O’Brien was among the first to wish the Gleesons well when the store reopened early yesterday and Donagh was thrilled to see many of his loyal customers filing back through the doors, shopping bags in hand.
The new state-of-the-art Gleeson’s Spar now boasts a modern café and a vastly extended deli section.
