By Garath Monerawela
The die is finally cast John Joyce owner of the popular and very successful Joyce Interiors will move on to his next calling. John has kept the cards close to his chest. Whatever direction he goes from here it is with heartfelt thanks of the many, many well wishers who have called personally to the premises or post good wishes on social platforms in the last number of months. They easily number in the thousands. The shop closes this Saturday.
When John Joyce arrived in Navan in the early 80’s it was to work in Heaton’s Department Store, now the current AIB premises on Trimgate St and Kennedy Road. I’m sure at the time, he didn’t realise, it was where he was to put down his roots and become a respected businessman in the town. Times change as it always will. Joyce with his retailing management skills honed in on the idea of setting up his own business in 1986. These were challenging times then, leaving a well established national business on decent money to start at zero. It takes determination of steel and belief in yourself. John Joyce is one of those men.
On behalf of all of us in The Monerawela Family, our publishing arm of The Weekender, The Red Book and Meath Live thank him for his valued custom and wish him well for the future. We met a man who made a difference to society in more ways than a thriving business. He has decided on his own violations, it’s time to move on. He and his staff will be missed on Watergate street, that was a hive of small successful businesses, who over the years all pulled together. The late Alfie Walsh a fourth generation jeweller and watchmaker summed it up to me when we moved The Weekender Newspaper to bigger premises in the summer of 1990 to Kennedy road ;”You will be missed, you don’t realise what you’ve brought to the street. ” Today, some 35 years on, 30th October, I echo those words to Johnny. Time does move on and whatever card you play next may it be full of Aces!
