History

Who we are?

Established in 1906 by a small group of people led by an extraordinary leader, “Paddy the Cope Gallagher”, who fought against considerable odds to create an extremely successful business which has brought huge social and economic benefits to the people of West Donegal. The Cope is now recognised as one of the leading retailers in Ireland, stocking more product lines than any other retailer in the North West.  The Cope prides itself in being a community business which creates sustainable employment whilst operating with integrity and honesty through an engaged and inspired team.

The Cope is a multi-location co-operative with businesses in: Dungloe, Annagry, Kincasslagh & Falcarragh.  Within these four locations we have 12 individual retail businesses which include: Foodstores located in Annagry, Falcarragh and Kincasslagh.  Operating from the town of Dungloe we operate: Hardware & Homeware, Menswear, Sports, Ladieswear, Furniture & Flooring, An Club Beag Play Area,IT Sales & Services, Home Improvement / Builders Providers and Agricultural Supplies.

How the Cope is structured...

The Templecrone Co-operative Agricultural Society Ltd., was formally registered on 16th January 1906.

The Cope has always been structured around a Board of Directors. The first Board had 11 members and through-out the years this number increased to 12 , which affectionately became known as 'The Twelve Apostles'.

 

The History of the Cope...

The Templecrone Co-operative Agricultural Society Ltd., was formally registered on 16th January 1906 and quite a lot has happened since

1906-1910

January 16th 1906 - Co-operative incorporated in Cleendra, Dungloe

1907- The Cope moves to Main Street, Dungloe

1909 - Move to the Old Court House on Main Street

1910 - The Maghery Cope Branch opened & closed in the same year

1910 - Cope Hall was built

1910 - The Tea-Van (Delivery Van) started operation

1910 - The Maghery Branch re-opened

1911-1919

1911 - Lettermacaward Branch opened

1912 - The Cope moves to Upper Main Street, Dungloe

1912 - Implementation of Agricultural stocks

1913 - The Cope Bakery opened

1914 - The Meenbanad Branch opened

1915 - Tailoring Department opened in Dungloe

1918 - Purpose built knitting factory in Dungloe

1919 - Kincasslagh Branch opened

1920-1929

1921 - Burtonport Branch opened

1922 - First chartered Cope Boat (SS Better Hope)

1923 - Annagry Branch opened

1923 - Cope Electricity program begins

1930-1939

1937 - Eamonn de Valera visits Paddy the Cope

1940-1949

1940 - First Cope owned Boat

1942 -  Soapstone mining in Crohy, Maghery opened & closed in the same year

1945 - The Fire at the Cope on Main Street

1946 - Soapstone mine re-opened

1947 - Soapstone mine collapsed

 

1950-1959

1953 - Last Cope Boat

1956 - The ESB start to provide electricity to Dungloe

1960-1969

1966 - Death of Paddy the Cope

31st May 1969 - Cope Dungloe Supermarket opened

1970-1979

1971 - Narin Branch opened

1972 - Meenbanad Branch closed

1973 - Cope stamps introduced

1975 - Turnover exceeded £1 million

1975 - Lough Swilly depot taken over

1976 - Cope House taken-over

1976 - Furniture built

1977 - Builders Providers moved to the Quay Road                              

1979 - Tea-Van stopped operation

1980-1989

1980 - Cope Car Park built

1983 - Knitting Factory closed

1984 - The Bakery closed

1985 - Turnover exceeded £5 million

1990-1999

1990 - Cope Sports opened (2ndFloor)

1994 - Cope Sports opened (Ground Floor)

 

2000-2009

2003 -  Narin becomes a rental property

2006 - Supermarket Fire

2006 - Maghery Branch closed

2006 - Burtonport Branch closed

2006 - Annagry Branch becomes Spar

2007 - Meenmore Builders Providers opened

2007 - Opening of new Supermarket (Vivo) & Sports

2008 - Unveiling of Paddy the Cope statue

2008 - Vivo became Eurospar

2009 - Lettermacaward becomes a rental property

2010 - Present

2010- Cope Stamps abolished

2011 - Eurospar Real Rewards Card introduced

April 2012 - hubtec opened

Feb 2013 - Staff become Cope Partners and receive a share              

May 2013 - Cope Cycles opened

May 2014 - Eurospar became Cope Foodstore

Aug 2014 - Eurospar Real Rewards Card abolished

Sept 2014 - Cope Digital Stamp Card introduced

Oct 2014 - Spar Annagry & Kincasslagh become Cope Foodstore Express                                  

May 2016 - The Cope Foodstore and Home & Hardware open in Falcarragh

Nov 2016 - Builders Providers Revamp

Jan 2017 - Cope Cycles joins Cope Sports

Oct 2017 - Annagry Revamp

June 2018 - Annagry celebrates its 100th Birthday

July 2018 - Launch of School Chrome Books initiative with Rosses Credit Union

May 2019 - Carpets move from Main Street to Builders Providers

 


 

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