Johnthehandyman.ie

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I gained promotion very quickly in SuperQuinn under Brian Webb, working my way up from the bottom. Collecting trollies, mopping floors, then I was placed in the bakery cleaning, widely regarded as the hardest job in the shop but it was my first contract and I was made full-time. I only worked there for three months before being promoted again. I was offered a job as a store man. On trial for three months I was then made permanent with a store mans contract. Then even though I was only there a short while an opportunity came up for a management position. I was still only 22 but I was made assistant back stores manager. I was delighted. My hard work was paying off. Here I remained until 2002 when SuperQuinn decided to go Central Warehousing doing away with the need for store men.

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I was made redundant on Friday 2nd May 2002 with a cheque in my pocket as a reward for 16 years of loyal service and hard graft in all sorts of weathers. I loved my time in SuperQuinn Swords making life long close friends many of whom I work for and are in contact with today.I took on my first job on Monday the 5th of May after being laid off two days previous, laying a new driveway for a girl who worked on checkouts at the time. John The Handyman was born. I had decided I would look for work as a handyman for the summer to have a break and recharge the batteries before I got a real job. I had a mortgage and three young children to care for. Summer went by very quickly I was flat out, word had spread and I had a list of jobs as long as my arm and no sign of it getting any shorter. Autumn came, then winter and I was still working flat out. If I wanted to I wouldn't have been able to stop. Thats is the story of the humble beginnings of Johnthehandyman.ie.

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Looking back on that decision I made over 30 years I am delighted to be still living in this great country, working with my son and Majella my Fiancé . What makes this country great is not the bankers and insurance companies, nor the politicians, not even the weather. In my opinion it is the ordinary Irish person. The people who never make the news. They are the people who give myself, Conor and Majella a chance every week. People who welcome us into their homes and treat us with such respect and hospitality that you would find nowhere else.You lot are the reason we are still in business and I really just want to thank you all for letting us keep doing what we love the most, working hard together to try and make your homes the best we possibly can.

John, Majella and Conor