Mayo-born brothers honoured in Dundalk

Two Erris-born businessmen have received a major award from Dundalk Chamber of Commerce.

Brothers David and Jim Lally were recipients of the Lifetime Recognition Award at the Dundalk Business Awards in the Carrickdale Hotel on Saturday, October 21.

Jim and David’s father, David, opened a television rental business in Park Street, Dundalk, Co Louth in 1964, which has grown into a thriving business. Lally's Electrical will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.

The Lallys are originally from Foxpoint, Barnatra, where their father built a ballroom called ‘The Plaza Ballroom’, and he also had a showband. They then moved to Ballina, where they opened a café and B&B called the Erris Café.

“Dad was determined to get onto to the East Coast so that none of us would have to emigrate, like a lot of our cousins have had to, unfortunately. We came up here to Blackrock, just outside of Dundalk, where he started renting televisions out in 1964 and the rest is history,” Jim told the Western People. “We have continued on the business, and as a result of all that, the Chamber of Commerce gave us a lifetime award for our contribution to business in Co Louth and in Dundalk in particular.” 

There were 650 people at the event in the Carrickdale Hotel and Jim was very proud to have been recognised at such a prestigious event.

“It was the award of the night and was really a once-in-a-lifetime thing to get,” Jim said.

“In 2000, we opened a 7,000 square foot superstore on Coes Road in Dundalk. The following year, Retail Excellence Ireland ran a competition for the retailer of the year in Ireland, both north and south, and we were invited down to Dromoland Castle, and we won that,” he said. “That again was once in a lifetime.” 

The Lallys are very proud of their Mayo and Erris roots, despite living in Co Louth for decades.

“We made our living up here but we’re still very proud Mayo men. Although we would know a lot of members of the Louth senior team, Mayo would still be our choice. We fly the flag outside our shop and our houses every time they are playing."