‘Christmas spend’ warning to save Irish high street shops from oblivion as every 1 spent locally pumps 4 into economy [Video]

BUYING local is the best way to save the Irish main street from oblivion, it’s been warned.

Business leaders claim the Covid pandemic sped up the move to online shopping by ten years and left traditional shops on their knees.

ISME are begging shoppers to buy local – where €1 spent can be worth up to €4 in your community and help keep the lights on.

Association boss Neil McDonnell explained when a small retailer closes its door, it’s usually shut forever.

He told the Irish Sun: “There’s a huge amount of vacant retail space in main streets in Ireland.

“You just look anywhere and you can see so many empty retail spaces.

“And we’re saying the majority of those actually will not return to retail use – simply because there has been a permanent change in shoppingpatterns …