Councillor urges consumers to shop local this Christmas

Fine Gael councillor Molly Buckley is asking people in the Tullamore area to try to do as much as they can of their Christmas shopping locally this Christmas. "Given that everyone is watching their money, particularly at this time of year, I would ask people to give our local traders the business where possible," she said on Monday. Cllr Buckley said local businesses are feeling the pinch now more than ever, and said money spent at local businesses will benefit the whole area. "The ripple effect of supporting our local traders is greater than you might imagine," she said. Cllr Buckley said shopping local will stimulate the local economy with money spent being re-invested in the local economy by businesses using other local services and suppliers. Jobs will also be created and maintained by shopping local, she added. "Small local businesses are the largest employers in Ireland," she said, adding that the fewer people who have long commutes to work the better for both the economy and the environment. "We have wonderful shops in Tullamore, with traders who are to be admired for their resilience and innovation," Cllr Buckley said. "Nobody wants to see any more shop or business closures. So, given this is a time of year where we will all spend money on presents for others, whatever the budget, please give some thought about using your euros to the best advantage for everyone."