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
