Local Faces: Fran Worrall
Fran Worrall

Local Faces: Fran Worrall

FOR over 50 years, Fran Worrall has been a welcome sight and point of contact for thousands of customers who pass through the doors at Molloys in Tallaght Village.

Starting out as a lounge boy initially in 1971, Fran was manager of the busy premises from 1987 to 2021, overseeing numerous refurbishments, and making many long lasting friendships with customers along the way.

His face and warm greetings to customers are synonymous with Molloys.

Fran actually retired last year, but just can’t find it in him to fully leave the hustle and bustle entirely, and has kept up a remarkable service, by continuing to work in Molloy’s three shifts a week.

“On retiring I wanted to keep my mind active, I had seen too many guys who retired, and died shortly afterwards,” said Fran.

The buzz of working with a large team of 50 or so people, from barstaff, to chefs, to cleaners, is something he quite enjoys.

“Busier is better, this place is a hive of activity,” he says.

“The team here all work very hard, the place is cleaned meticulously every day, and open seven days a week.”

During his time at Molloys, Fran recalls the place has gone through “seven refurbishments”, an incredible amount, but it is in keeping with the growth and changing needs of the local community.

“The pub always moves with the times,” he acknowledges.

Fran Worrall was manager of Molloys from 1987 to 2021, overseeing numerous refurbishments, and making many long lasting friendships with customers along the way. Last week he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tallaght Person of The Year Awards

“There was the Montpellier Room from 1972 to 1984 with live music, then there was Vixens from 1984 to 1994. It was keeping with changing times, Tallaght was full of young people, we had a DJ five to seven nights a week.

“Those customers are still with us today. It was very successful for the young people of Tallaght, they didn’t have to get a taxi into town, and lots of love stories started in Molloys. It is good for the people of Tallaght to have a nice place to go.”

The evolving nature of Molloys saw the advent of Fables from 1994 to 2005, and in more recent times the restaurant and bar sections have undergone major refurbishments, complimenting the lounge and late night disco.

Molloys essentially provides a “one-stop shop” for nights out, but according to Fran, at it’s core, the premises is “still family orientated.”

“There is always so much going on here, and it is right in the middle of the community. We have always had a good mix of customers, a good crowd, three darts teams, including one ladies darts team. It was a great experience when Tallaght IT used to reserve a room for Rag Week and Freshers Week, the likes of Aslan and Wolftones played here.”

Fran was nominated at the recent Tallaght Person of the Year awards and won a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’m still on a high, was delighted to win,” he said.

While collecting his award on stage, Fran said a few words, and dedicated the accolade to his late father George Worrall, who was a prominent figure in developing community supports in the 1960s and 70s.

“He did trojan work, including setting up the Tallaght District Residents association in the mid to late 1960s,” said Fran.

“During that time, he was also involved in organising trips to the sea for local kids, and was involved in setting up a credit union in the village.”

Fran Worrall

The youngest of seven kids, Fran went to St Mary’s National School on Greenhills Road, and then to Tallaght Community School, where he was in the school’s first Leaving Cert class of 1974.

Fran then followed in the footsteps of his old man, by working in Roadstone for three years from 1974 to 77, but “double jobbed”, continuing to work part-time in Molloys.

“I have always enjoyed working here, the buzz and atmosphere in the pub,” he said.

The camaraderie enticed him to work in Molloys fulltime, and although he worked in Molloys in Finglas from 1981-87, the position of manager brought him home to Tallaght Village, where he continues to ply his trade today.

Married to Noreen, the pair raised two boys Mark (39) and Stephen (37), and Fran is enjoying the extra bit of time he has now that he is retired to catch up with family, and visit his sons in Galway and the UK respectively.

“I like to read, enjoy walks and recently joined a gym,” he said.

Fran wishes Darren O’Brien the general manager and his team every success in the future

“I will be planning to go to the UK in the New Year to see Stephen, and maybe some sun in the summer.”

A new management team are in place at Molloys and Fran wished them every success, and looks forward to the 90th anniversary of Molloys in 2023.

“I would like to wish the management all the best. Darren O’Brien the general manager, he has been with Molloys the last 28 years, and his team every success in the future,” said Fran.

“Molloys are good and fair employers. They always gave me their full support and backing. That was one of the main reasons I never changed. People say ‘do you ever get bored’ – you never have time to get bored. I was huge in customer services, the meet and greet is very important to the business.”

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