Christmas memories of Miscellany in Portlaoise

A NOSTALGIC poem recalling Mary O’Sullivan's Miscellany shop in Portlaoise will resonate with those who hark back to an era of small local shops on the high street, where the personal touch, the chat, merriment and skilled gift wrapping were all part of the Christmas shopping experience.

Nowhere was this more enshrined than in Mary O’Sullivan's Miscellany on Main Street. Sadly, neither are with us any longer, the last vestiges of the shop disappearing with the removal of the shopfront sign in recent weeks.

The poem, while a tribute to Mary, her personality and generosity also tries to address the broader universal themes of the true meaning of Christmas, of giving, sharing, and caring for those who may be alone, or less well off or just different, as well as remembering our loved ones who have passed on.

Miscellany - A Christmas Reflection by local author John Whelan is from a new collection of poems entitled Stoked, which are to be published later next year.

Miscellany

A Christmas reflection after Mary O’Sullivan

By John Whelan 

I miss Miscellany 

Especially on the eve of Christmas 

To there we made our pilgrimage 

To this shrine of sharing Gifts, not of gold, frankincense, and myrrh 

But of mirth, friendship, incense and galah 

Glad to be here for another year 

All sorts of mad hatter magic in 

Miscellany 

Presents that said you really cared.

That it’s the thought that counts 

And you could count on Miscellany 

For trinkets, and toys and tantalising things 

From the four corners 

Each with their own creator 

Their secrets unfolding in Miscellany 

To mull over 

The mulled wine and home baked mince pies 

Miscellany was box office 

For the musical, the panto, the jazz, the arts festival 

Mary loved to make an exhibition 

Of herself, as she danced on tables 

To no one’s tune 

Except maybe Loyko, the Russian Gypsy Band 

Or Ian Richards and the Soulmasters, and sure didn’t he look like 

Jesus Christ himself, born to be on stage, to save us all from the sin 

Of standing still.

Still, I miss Mary 

Mother of Jesus, Moll 

She was our Gráinne Mhaol 

She was box office 

Worth heading into Miscellany for Mary 

Alone 

Worth the trip to Miscellany 

For the wrapping 

Alone 

Mary’s wrapping, the bells and bows 

That said ‘You’re a million dollars baby’ 

I miss Mary, for the wrapping 

 Alone 

On Christmas Eve