Kilkenny business closure will be 'one less reason to go into town'
Senator Malcolm Noonan shares his own experience with Michael Rossiter of Rossiter Shoe Repairs and Pedorthics, who he says 'has saved more soles than a saint', including his own
Shock spread across Kilkenny recently when news broke that Rossiter Shoe Repairs and Pedorthics, based on the Butterslip in Kilkenny City, announced that it will close its doors for the final time later this year.
The business has been in operation locally for 38 years but it has been confirmed 2025 will be its last in-store before moving online.
“I've been having round table talks at home for about two years,” Michael Rossiter told Kilkenny Live last weekend, revealing after mulling over it for a period, a decision was reached last August.
“It is a relief and that's one hurdle over. Now I’m going to have a hurdle every single day because the amount of people that are coming in and offering me goodwill is absolutely tremendous,” he said.
Amongst those paying tribute to Michael Rossiter in recent days was Kilkenny senator Malcolm Noonan, who recently shared a picture of "two pairs of Birkenstock (the canvassers choice), both over twenty years old and brought back from the brink more times than I care to remember, by the gifted hands of Michael Rossiter."
Senator Noonan's post continued: "I usually brought them in after an election campaign. Like so many of his customers, we will be lost without Rossiter's and we're sorry to hear that he's hanging up his apron.
"It's perhaps a result of our throwaway culture that we have an ever dwindling number of cobblers left in the country or that it's not seen as an attractive career for young people.
"Years ago, our wonderful neighbour in Larchfield the late Tommy Conye, upon being made redundant, trained in Tutty's of Naas and opened a shoe repair business in the garage beside his house. He was a great craftsman and ran a successful trade there.
"It will be a loss to our town centre too; one less reason to go into town. It's of great testament to Michael that he wasn't tempted to move to an out of town shopping centre that people could drive to. But I guess that wouldn't wear any shoe leather.
"With all the government talk of circular economy policy, it's sad that we're losing the means and the people to implement it. Buying stuff that lasts and is repairable, reusable and durable is the way to go. I'm still getting wear out of twenty year old shoes, thanks to Michael.
"If I'm not mistaken, the hand painted sign above his shop on the Butterslip, may be one of the few remaining examples of Brendan Lawless's work.
"Wishing Michael well as he steps back from the workshop. He has saved more soles than a saint, and perhaps is one for having to listen to that joke thirty times a day. We'll miss the little shop on the Butterslip."
The store will continue supplying orthotics following the closure of the physical store with the retail shop available at rossitershoecare.com