Chip Shop of the Year winner announced

Today, the ‘MAIL’ can reveal that JC’s Chippie in Drumgor has earned top ‘plaice’ in the competition, after a shoal of votes from contented customers.

Owner of JC’s Chippie, Julie Catney, didn’t quite believe the news at first:

“I actually thought it was an April Fool’s! The call came in at five past twelve on April 1st, but I thought, ‘This must be a joke!’”

Julie, who is originally from Lurgan, has been running JC’s for almost a decade - and now operates with the help of two staff. She feels that their victory is down to the loyal base of customers they have established over the years.

“We’ll be open ten years in July,” Julie shared. “I think we’ve just become such a part of the community here.”

Julie is no newcomer to the food industry - she started working in The Manhattan, Lurgan, at the age of 15 and has worked in various catering environments since. Despite having had jobs in several other fields, serving up quality fish and chips to customers has been a running priority.

“At one stage, I worked in a factory and ran a chip van at night,” Julie explained. “Opening a chippie of my own was always something I’d wanted to do and when it came to my fortieth birthday, I thought: ‘It’s now or never’.”

Readers have been voting for their Chip Shop of the Year over the past few months and JC’s Chippie was shortlisted with seven other chip shops. Julie and her staff, which includes her 19 year old daughter, were overwhelmed by the response and encouragement.

“A few customers told me that, after the last Postmen’s Union meeting, they had all voted for JC’s in the competition,” Julie said. “I want to thank the local community for their loyalty and continued support.”