Tommy Divney (Karl Somers)

I'm studying in the shop keeping dept at the moment.

A days work in the shop.

7:30 I'd ger off the bus at Capel St bridge and walk up the street, up to me lovely little shop. In I'd go and stick the kettle on the hob for an oul cuppa cha. 9:30 Mikey would be droppin' in the fruit for me. Apples, oranges, tomatas, black bannanans and the like. I'd pay him his phew bob and then he'd be off. Phone rings and I answer it, "hello Back in ten minutes, Tommy speakin' what's the story?" A man from Glasneven with a broken tele, he says he can't get channel two in and was wondering if I could tune it in for him, "No bother at all son drop into me at about four, I'm very busy down here at the moment it's all go in the shop business. 1:00 Lunch time comes and time to go on me breack, it's been a tough morning and I could really do with it. So it's into Harrys place next door for the usual, four pints of the finest, ah yes your only man, lovely stuff. I'd down them and then it's back to the grind stone. 4:36 The lad from Glasnevin pops down with the broken tele, a nice lad too, not bad lookin'. I tune in the oul thing no bother, a euro thanks very much, easy as jam, now lets see maybe there's a little film on. 5:58 Bedad and Mrs Mannion from Drimnagh drops in to pick up a bir a fruit for the married sister, Dibnagh also from Drimnagh, she's not too good she's up in the hospital, she's havin problems with her water works. I suggested that she go and see a friend of mine Johnny Crinnion, a retired engineer from Thomas Rd. in Drimnagh, so she says she'll tell ur abour it. We chat about this and that and have several cups of cha, ah thats grand seven a clock now, time for a bite to eat, I'll pop next door for me one an' one, be the hockey, it's hockey. 5:45am Ah now that was a grand day, up to me eyes all day. Lets see how much did I make today? Beejeekers that's grand seven quid, not bad, not bad at all. I'll make a move now for me bus. Beetweekers the sale is startin' today, the winda will have to be done when I get back in. Ah yes another day another dollar. I love this place, I wish I could live here, ah well, right so good luck.

Education

Attended the College of Confectionary Switzerland 1940-1945.
Degree in Shop Keeping in the college of shop keeping, Skerries. 1948.
Anco course in chatting and smoking from 1948-1949.
Future Plans I plan to put an extension onto the store room out the back. I'd say me ware house is about 200 square foot at the moment but I'd like to extend my empire. Jack Malloy a builder from Firhouse, up in the mountains there is going to do the job for me.

Selected Exhibitions

I made a right show of meself last Sahurda nigh'. Buckled I was.
I also made an exhibition of meself on the Frida before that in Murphys of Capel St.

Selected Publications

The Shop keppers guide to Dublin, p 34-56.
Confectionars Monthly. p 12-23.
Fishing Yearly, p 2.
The Stubs Gazette, p 2 - 4.
Chocolate Box news letter.

Awards Gained

I was awarded the Shop Keeper of the year award in 1958, for out standing ham.
The Best Rasher of the year award, 1962.
Voted best shop in Dublin 1965.
The worst bread and milk award, 1979.
I won a prize ham in Feericks of Buckingham St, in 1981.
I came second in the Bohernabreena fishing competition.
I won the raffle in MacMahons of Rathmines, £100 1986.
I got a scholarship to go to New york for a year to see how the "Yanks" do it.

Memberships

I'm a member of the Shop Keepers Union of Ireland.
Confectionars United.
Window policies, Dorset Street.
Bohernebreena Fishing Club.
The Forty Foot High Swimming Club.