Our Story

Moving into Dungloe was a major step for the young Society. The original Cleendra premises had become too small and Dungloe offered a more practical centre for customers, transport and the railway. The Cope first used Condy Doherty's property in 1907, later moved into the Old Courthouse and, in 1912, took larger premises on Upper Main Street. From there it could expand beyond groceries into agricultural implements, timber, hardware and other essential goods.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 2 — Dungloe.

The purpose-built Knitting Factory was completed in 1918 and formally opened by Rev. Tom Finlay S.J. in August 1919. It was a strikingly modern project for its time and became a major source of employment for women in the Rosses. In later decades its knitwear became known internationally through the St. Crone Handknits name.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 5 — The Knitting Factory.

In June 1921, during the War of Independence, Paddy responded to the closure of the railway supply route into West Donegal by chartering the SS Better Hope at Bunbeg, loading her with eggs and sailing for Glasgow. The voyage helped break the blockade and showed that sea transport could reduce dependence on Derry wholesalers. Paddy also helped secure support for the extension of Dungloe Pier.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapters 7 & 8 — The Mill and the Pier / The Cope Boats.

Electricity generated from the Mill Race began supplying Dungloe in December 1923 — more than three decades before the ESB network arrived. The system was operated locally by The Cope using water power from Dungloe Lough and continued until Dungloe joined the national ESB network in 1956.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 7 — The Mill and the Pier.

The Cope revived soapstone mining at Crohy Head in 1942 during the Emergency. The mine reopened in 1946 when higher-quality white soapstone was being extracted, but renewed overseas competition and the collapse of the main undersea tunnel eventually made the venture commercially unviable.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 10 — Granite and Soapstone.

Part of the land acquired with the Mill purchase lay beside the Dungloe River. In 1954, The Cope donated part of this land to Donegal County Council so that a new hospital could be built in Dungloe. The hospital opened in June 1958.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 7 — The Mill and the Pier.

The new Cope supermarket opened in Dungloe on 31 May 1969. It was regarded as a radical retail development for West Donegal and marked a decisive shift toward the modern retail business The Cope would become.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 2 — Dungloe.

The Lough Swilly depot was taken over and Menswear built in 1975. Cope House was taken over and Furniture developed in 1976. Builders Providers moved to Quay Road in 1977. The Tea-Van completed its run in 1979.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapters 2 & 4 — Dungloe / Builders’ Providers.

The move marked a defining stage in the growth of The Cope’s building-supply business and laid the groundwork for the later move to the purpose-built Meenmore site.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 4 — Builders’ Providers.

The milestone reflected how successfully The Cope had adapted — growing in retail, building supplies and new departments while responding to changing customer needs and economic realities.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 2 — Dungloe.

The new development represented a major investment in The Cope’s Main Street retail offer.

Source: The Story of the Cope, Patrick Boner (Templecrone Press, 2009) — Chapter 2 — Dungloe.

The website marked another important step in The Cope’s evolution — bringing a business founded in rural Donegal into a new digital retail era.

gTeic@Na Rosa reflects a new kind of community service — helping people work, create and build businesses locally while connecting to opportunities far beyond the Rosses.