Eighty years of auctioneering

Milestone celebration for Nenagh family business

A major achievement for another homegrown family enterprise will be acknowledged this week as Talbot Auctioneers celebrate 80 years in business.

The Talbot story began in 1946 when Frank Talbot and his wife Winifred returned home from New York. Frank was a native of Owning, Co Kilkenny, who met Winifred (née Mackey, from Capparoe) in the US.

Frank and Winifred originally set up business at Summerhill where the Half Door pub is now. It is interesting to note that a number of other prominent Nenagh businesses – including Slattery’s and JKC’s on Pearse St – were founded in that same year.

Frank subsequently bought the premises on Kenyon St – originally a bar and grocery – and set up a furniture auctioneering business there. Later, he expanded into selling houses, along with sales and lease of land. Jack Meagher of Summerhill worked alongside him as a clerk.

Frank passed away in 1953. His son Billy took on the auctioneering business and divided his time between it and the livestock marts in Cork, where he operated as auctioneer from the early ‘60s. He travelled up and down to Cork for many years up until 1978, when Billy decided to retire from Cork mart.

PIVOTAL YEAR

That was a pivotal year for the business in Nenagh, as Billy drove it forward by taking an agency with the EBS. He along with his wife Breeda (née Cleary) also oversaw re-development of the Kenyon St premises in 1978, a move that led to the Talbot pub being developed at the rear.

As has been the case throughout the Talbot story, Billy was fortunate to have some fantastic staff working in the auctioneering/EBS and pub business with him over the years – many of whom worked with the family for long periods of time. Only for them it would not have been possible to keep the business going.

A third generation of the family, William joined the business in 1994 after successfully completing a National Diploma in Auctioneering, Valuation & Estate Agency and a National Certificate in Agriculture, after previously working with Gunne’s (Dublin) and DeCourcy’s (Ennis). The franchise with Sherry Fitzgerald estate agents began in 1999. This was a bold move to make, but one that has never been regretted by William, who said his late father was also very much in favour of the franchise.

DRAMATIC CHANGE

The changes the Talbot business has gone through over the years have been dramatic to say the least. It has seen property markets fluctuate wildly between times of prosperity and recession. Technology has also vastly changed the auctioneering business, with the advent of online marketing and enabling of customers to take virtual tours/web searches of properties. The speed at which property is brought to market has also rapidly advanced.

But, after 33 years in the business, William says the aspect he most enjoys about it is the good old-fashioned way of meeting people.

“What I really enjoy is seeing people coming back in through the door – I’ve even dealt with the grandchildren of some of my original clients,” he said. “There is that generational link going back through the history of the business, and that is huge for us.”

William added: “There’s nothing better than getting a call to say you have been recommended by someone. We’re very appreciative of the support of our business colleagues, all of our customers, family and friends – without which we would not be here today. That is something we have really appreciated over the last 80 years.”

Today, William is joined in the business by Marie Leahy of (Templemore - since 1999), along with Siobhán Kennedy (Nenagh - 2005), Jackie Feighery (Nenagh - 2013) and Paddy Heenan (Terryglass - 2020). Together, they welcome everyone in the community to a coffee morning this Friday, October 16, at their Kenyon St office between 10.30 and 11.30am, to join in celebrating this remarkable milestone for a Nenagh family business.