E. Gallaghers shop Strabane

A highlight of our trip to Strabane was a visit to Harleys shop on the main street. The shop once housed a drapery store, built by Edward Gallagher in 1869. Edward had made a small fortune selling bibles in America and came home to start a business. The shop was on the ground floor with menswear to the front and ladies wear at the back. Later a shirt factory was built to the rear of the building. Harry (Urney Chocolates founder) worked in his father Edward's business for a short time before being sent off to study law. Harry later returned to the area when he got the post of Crown Solicitor to Donegal and his brother Andrew took over the family business. The shop then came into Joseph Harley's father's hands and Joseph now runs a furniture shop from the same premises. Today's shop retains many of the old features including the wooden floor and exterior design. There was a lovely nostalgic feel to the building; you could almost hear the ghosts of customers milling in the out of the busy drapery store of over 100 years ago when Edward traded his wares.