Hair today, gone tomorrow

Cork’s oldest barber shop, The Baldy Barber in Blackpool, is to close its doors this Saturday after almost 87 years in business.

The shop’s owner Mick Moriarty confirmed the sad news this week.

Mick’s father Peter first opened the barbershop in Merchant’s Quay on 1 February 1937 before moving it to Blackpool where Mick took over the family business in 1971.

In a heartfelt video on the barbershop’s social media, Mick thanked the people of Blackpool and all his customers down through the years.

He said: “I'm retiring completely after 59 years.

“Unfortunately, I won't make it 60 years working.

“I just want to say thanks to everyone.

“I'm here now in Ballincollig where I was born. A lot of people think I'm from Blackpool but I'm not.”

Mick continued: “My father was a Norrie alright, but I was born in Ballincollig where I’ll be spending a lot of my time in the future having a cup of coffee and walking through Regional Park.

“And I suppose I’ll have to go to Alicante for a game of golf now and again.

“Thanks to the people of Blackpool at the surrounding areas. Thanks for sharing my life with me for the last 59 years.

“Slán go fóill,” Mick concluded.