Chick packs away his razors and scissors

Date Published: 22-Feb-2008

Legendary. It was a word that was uttered more than once on Wednesday night, as well known and highly-respected barber Michael ‘Chick’ Gillen — who has been cutting hair for 60 years — closed up his Dominick Street shop and cleared out the countless photos and memorabilia that lined nearly every inch of its tiny space.

To call Chick an institution in Galway — and indeed further afield — probably wouldn’t even do this 75-year-old justice. In fact, it would be hard to find a word that truly encapsulates the kindness, humour and good-nature that many — even those who’ve only ever been in his company for a couple hours — see in him.

Chick is perhaps best known for his involvement in boxing in Galway, having trained — amongst others — Frances Barrett, who represented Ireland in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. But he’s also one of the longest practising barbers in the city; and on Wednesday night, friends, family and longtime customers gathered to wish Chick well on his retirement, with some even taking a seat in his chair for one last cut.

“I can do it now with my eyes closed,” he tells one of these last ‘customers’ with a smile. “Everyone wants to be the last one to get a haircut,” remarks one of Chick’s closest friends, Sean Courtney.

Chick — who lives in Mervue with his wife, Maureen — started his apprenticeship at the young age of 14. He says he had been calling into Jimmy Jennings’ Barber Shop on Mainguard Street to admire the pictures of renowned boxers ‘Gentleman Jim’ Corbett and John L Sullivan that were up on the wall, and started sweeping the floor on the weekends.

Chick recalls how one………………….