Former staff of the former much-loved department store Roches Stores held a 20-year anniversary reunion at the Clayton Hotel on Lapp’s Quay last Friday night.

The event marked the occasion when the store last traded on Patrick Street before transferring the retail business to English high street chain Debenhams in October 2006.

Despite the passage of time, the reunion attracted more than 200 colleagues who had worked in the store from the 1950s right through to the departure of Debenhams in 2020.

Margaret Cafferkey, Katie Kerr and Mary Manley, are all smiles at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane Margaret Cafferkey, Katie Kerr and Mary Manley, are all smiles at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane

Sixty-eight-year-old Mark Hammond, son of the late Echo photographer Roy Hammond, travelled over from Manchester to meet former parcel depot friends he would not have met for more than four decades.

Founded by William Roche in the early 20th century, the store was burnt to the ground during the ‘Burning of Cork’ in December 1921, before being rebuilt in the late 1920s with the iconic green dome, which is still part of the architecture of Cork city today.

Declan O'Driscoll, Tony Seymour and Tommy Donovan, at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane Declan O’Driscoll, Tony Seymour and Tommy Donovan, at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane

The store enjoyed phenomenal popularity among the people of Cork for the personal service that it offered.

Following the development of the Merchant Quay Shopping Centre in 1989, the store drew a weekly footfall equalling that of the capacity of Croke Park on All-Ireland final day passing through its front door to the centre.

Betty Golden and Geraldine Cunneen, looking glamorous at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane. Betty Golden and Geraldine Cunneen, looking glamorous at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane.

Its closure felt like a bereavement to the people of Cork, such was its loss.

Reunion organiser Finbarr Buckley, who had spent 28 years with the company, commented afterwards: “I was blown away by the size of the attendance and cannot thank people enough for making this such a memorable occasion.

Ann O'Keeffe, Catherine O'Brien and Angela Mulcahy, at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane Ann O’Keeffe, Catherine O’Brien and Angela Mulcahy, at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane

“It’s amazing when we meet up how it brings us back to not alone working but growing up together.

“It was refreshing to see so many people engage in chat and laughter and rekindle friendships after so many years.”

Karen and John Griffin, looking stylish at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane Karen and John Griffin, looking stylish at the 20th anniversary reunion of former Roches Stores staff members and friends at the Cork city Clayton Hotel. Picture: David Keane

The event would not have been possible without the assistance of colleagues Christine Ryan, Rose O’Connor, and Eimear Doyle, and Clayton Hotel event managers Evie, Mark, and Samantha.