Obituary: Mr. Francis McAuley

Mr McAuley passed away peacefully at Braid Valley Hospital in the town on Monday, March 1.

He will be best known and most fondly remembered behind the counter of ‘Law’s’ on Broughshane Street, one of Ballymena’s oldest established shops which closed in October, last year.

Widely regarded as a retail stalwart in the supply of daily newspapers, stationery, sweets and religious cards & gifts to townsfolk, the shop was opened in the Thirties by sisters, the late Madge and the late Teresa Law.

Just over two decades ago, Francis and his wife, Jean, took over the premises with great success and were often ably helped out behind the historic counter of ‘Law’s’ by their sons, Paul and Patrick.

Old hands in the retail trade, Francis and Jean ran a shop at Galgorm Street for many years before moving to Albert Place/John Street where they opened a corner shop which they ran in tandem with ‘Law’s’ for about a decade.

When Francis’s health deteriorated last year, wife Jean and family worked on to keep the Broughshane Street shop open for its many faithful customers who continued to file through its doors in large numbers throughout its final full day of trading on Saturday, October 10.

A leading local member of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), Francis McAuley was one of the founder members of the SVP branch of Harryville chapel.

A keen sportsman, he was a leading official for many years in Ballymena snooker circles and was a keen follower of football.

Francis was also very much interested in the history of old Ballymena and one of his great passions was picking up snippets of the town and district in times’ past.

The high esteem in which Francis was held by all who knew him was reflected by a huge attendance at his funeral, last Wednesday morning.

Francis, who is survived by his wife Jean, sons, Patrick and Paul, daughters-in-law Fiona and Bronagh, grandchildren and wider family circle was buried following Requiem Mass at All Saints.