Last weekend, Hillview Park in Enniskillen was abuzz with people as faithful customers of ‘Gaby’s Chip Van’ queued up to enjoy a last fish supper, battered sausage or curry chip from the popular takeaway as Patricia and Gaby Traynor served the Fermanagh community one last time before hanging up their aprons to take retirement.

After nearly 40 years in business, where they served three generations of some Fermanagh families, the Traynors retired on a high, leaving with many happy memories.

Grateful for the support that they received on their last night in business, and throughout the years, Patricia told The Impartial Reporter: “The loyalty and support we’ve had from the customers, the same customers over the years, has been unbelievable and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of their loyalty, their gifts, cards and well-wishes on Facebook and WhatsApp, for our retirement.”

Patricia and Gaby started their takeaway business in the early Eighties. “I’ve always had an interest in catering, myself, from a young age, and then the opportunity came up to purchase a chip van so we purchased it and we built up a business,” said Patricia. “We served most families and I’d safely say we served three generations of most families around Enniskillen,” she added.

A family affair

The chip shop business became even more of a family affair as Patricia and Gaby’s three children, Kevin, Mary (McKay) and Gabe Jnr all played their part in the business.

Grateful for the help from her children, Patricia said: “When they were attending school and going to university, they’d come home on their holidays and at weekends to give a hand.

“I’d like to say a particular thanks to my daughter Mary. From her school days, right through to university and then law school, she qualified as a commercial lawyer, and still came down to see it through to the very end at the weekend for the grand finale.”

The Traynors later replaced their chip van with a chip trailer, and around 10 years ago, after Gaby was diagnosed with cancer, they decided to set up the trailer as a stationary chip shop near their home in Hillview.

“We were going to retire at that stage, but I thought, ‘No, we’ll have a go at it from the house’. It took off grand; I had the mobile phone, so people would ring in their orders and then come and collect.

“’We’ll have a Gaby’s for our tea’, that’s all we heard,” said Patricia, adding jokingly with a laugh: “There was no word about me!”

Noting how well-known Gaby is in the area, having grown up on Paget Square in Enniskillen, she said: “He’s a true townie – there’s not too many of them left.”

Now, upon their retirement, Patricia and Gaby look forward to spending more time with their children and their grandchildren. “We hope to spend now our retirement together because when the kids were growing up we were away working most weekends, and a couple of nights a week, and I want to spend time with my grandkids.

“Kevin, my oldest, his children – Kai, Lana and Isla May Traynor – they live in Belfast, and loved getting down to the chip trailer to help their granny. Cillian and Aobh McKay, they are Mary’s two children. They live in Belfast as well, and they love to get down.

“They say, ‘Granny, you’re very popular, everyone knows you’,” she laughed, adding: “And Gabe Jnr, and his kids, Finn, Blaise and Esme – I hope to spend more time with them now too.”

Reminiscing about their time in business, Patricia recalled some fond memories: “We had such fun and such craic! It was laughter and slagging and joking and whatnot over the years. We have great memories.

“When teenage kids would come out, we’d match them up with so and so: ‘There’s a wee fella for you, and there’s a wee fella for you’,” she laughed, adding: “If anything went on, we knew it!”

With warm affection, she added: “It’s been brilliant. A big, heartfelt thank-you to everyone, because they were so generous. We had great customers, who became great friends.

“The best part of it was the happy memories we have. It was mighty.”