Hundreds queue for Lennox's Last Supper as iconic Cork chip shop closes after 73 years

They said they were very sad to see it close, but were in chipper form while in the queue, entertaining fellow customers with songs including 'Singing in the Rain' and 'My Way'.

Rose got staff to sign the chip bag and said: “I am going to hang it on my wall at home. It will be a keepsake.” 

Brothers Eoin and Gerard Walsh from Aherla were happy leaving the chipper for the last time, reliving memories of their grandmother Sheila from nearby Glasheen.

The brothers said her anniversary was in recent days and they recalled going to Jackie Lennox’s every weekend with her when they were children. They said it was an end of an era and said they will keep the bags as a memento of the legendary chipper.

Lena Quinn from the Lough said her family went every two or three weeks to Lennox’s and will now have to find a replacement.

She is a teacher in Togher girls primary school and is planning to use Jackie Lennox bags to make ships in a school project next week. She had a list of food to get for family members which included two of the infamous Jackie Deluxe burgers.

“That’s the whole family fed tonight, thank God!”, she said.

She and her husband Eric made a new friend while in the queue for an hour and a half — Cayden Kirkpatrick from the Choctaw Nation in the US. He is currently studying in UCC, where he is on a scholarship programme.

He said: “I just heard about this from the International Student Society who said it was the last day they were open so I just came. It is my first time here.” 

There were mixed emotions for the Lennox family as they closed the doors for the last time, after 73 years of trading.

Brother and sister Brian and Frances Lennox announced they were closing the business, with the loss of 30 jobs, last Monday. Since then, loyal customers joined by some new ones have flocked to the venue for one last order.

Their father Jackie founded the business in 1951.

His granddaughter Eileena said on Sunday night that the goodwill shown to the family throughout the week was amazing and overwhelming. She had worked in the chip shop during her college years and has travelled throughout the world, meeting people who regaled her with memories of her family’s business.

She said on Sunday night that there would be tears when the final customer had been served, adding that the family and staff were exhausted but delighted with the excitement and goodwill of the past week.

Despite flooding in parts of Cork City and county on Saturday afternoon, people flocked to Bandon Road and joined the growing queue, as the countdown to the last supper from Lennox’s was on its penultimate day.

Orange weather warnings and pelting rain couldn't deter people from 2.5 hours in the Saturday afternoon queue.

A long pilgrimage from an island off Denmark to Cork City to get a taste of the legendary Lennox’s servings paid off for Cork native David Lavelle.

He returned to Denmark on Sunday after undertaking a 2,000km trek from the island of Bornholm, off Denmark, on Friday morning. His trip took in a ferry to Sweden, a bridge crossing to Denmark, a flight to Dublin and an aircoach to Cork before he finally reached the holy grail of the counter of Jackie Lennox’s on Bandon Road just after 5pm on Saturday evening – 36 hours after boarding the ferry on Friday morning.

He told the Irish Examiner that he spent two hours and 42 minutes in the queue before securing his order.

And he said: “You can bet your bottom dollar that it was worth it!”.

He arranged his quick trip home on Tuesday — the day after Brian and Frances Lennox announced that the legendary chip shop will close on Sunday evening after 73 years in existence.

Many people who enjoyed the taste of Lennox’s during their college years in Cork City returned to the Bandon Road for one last taste of nostalgia since the announcement, while others have brought their children along to get a glimpse of what was an institution in Cork.