Donegal Imports. 5358 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60646 has a new owner!
Good news for friends of Irish imports stores on the north side of Chicago. Donegal Imports, is open again and ready for business. After many years of long service to the community, Alex McGrath has taken a well-deserved retirement. The new owner is Michael T Hughes, known as Miceál to his family, a long time resident of the Northwest side of Chicago and first generation Irish-American. His parents, both from County Mayo, Michael J. Hughes and Ellen C. Hughes, née Walsh, are well known to the Irish American community in Chicago. Michael J. was a longtime stationary engineer with Local 399. Ellen is best known for her work from her work at St. Viator Church, and as a banquet waitress with Monastero's Restaurant. His brother Martin J. Wilmet-Hughes was a well-known singer in the area, cantoring many wedding and funeral masses over the years. He has now moved to the sunnier climes of Scottsdale, Arizona, along with his bride, Nicole Wilmet-Hughes. His sister Brigid Norah was a long time dancer with the O'Hare School of Irish Dance. Many of you have seen her over the years, dancing at various pubs and restaurants over the St Patrick's Day holidays. Michael's aunt, Agnes Mahoney, was very well known in the Irish dancing world, attending all the feiseanna, and created many of the dresses, some of which are still used today. She, also with Michael J. Hughes was one of the founding members of the Irish American Heritage Center.
Now that Michael T Hughes is taking over the store, he hopes to keep up the same friendly atmosphere and warm welcome that Alex had over the years. It has the same location (5358 W. Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60646) and telephone number (773-792-2377) as before. He's planning on keeping all of your old favorites, and introducing some new ones. He will be having an official grand opening in the next few weeks. Please check Facebook for notifications about when that is happening. In the meantime, feel free to stop by and see what he has in inventory. Please let him know if there's anything you are looking for in particular, as he restocks everything for the ongoing year. Donegal Imports will have the same class and charm, but a slightly different brogue. Please feel free to stop by. Go raibh maith agat.
