Local Faces: Niall Cassidy

PASSING his driving test in an electric milk float at the age of 16, there was only one direction Niall Cassidy was destined to go in.

Living in Belgard, Niall is a fourth-generation milkman, with his great grandad, grandad and dad Sean all in the trade – and delivering milk on a horse and cart.

Niall’s great grandad and grandad worked in the city centre, delivering milk to homes in the Coombe, Blackpitts and Liberties.

His dad Sean’s horse and cart made its way out into the suburbs; where a six-year-old Niall, who grew up in Crumlin, started helping on school holidays.

After sitting his Leaving Certificate, Niall trained to be an electrician.

However, the family business was in his blood and Niall eventually started his own milk round – building on his dad’s round when he passed away.

Niall now “delivers breakfast” to homes and businesses in Clondalkin, Chapelizod, Ballymount, Tallaght, Walkinstown and Knocklyon.

While the electric float he trained on has made way for a diesel van, Niall said he continues to provide a traditional service – opting for face-to-face customer service rather than online.

“Most of my corporate work is through online… but my residential customers email, text, phone, Whatsapp,” Niall told The Echo.

“The interaction on the doorstep with customers means the world to me.

Niall Cassidy

“I love the banter, the humour, it’s what I like most about the job.

“During Covid, customers were also able to ring me if they’d no teabags or other essentials and I’d buy them in the morning and leave them with their milk.”

Looking back over the years, Niall said that when he was growing up every house got milk delivered but there was a decline in the nineties.

However, he believes the milk man is making a return.

“There definitely was a decline but it’s on the increase again,” he said.

“People are busy, and any convenience is a plus.

“I deliver 14 different dairy products and 11 types of milk.

“It’s a breakfast service I’m providing, butter, yogurts, cheese, juices…”

Thanking all his customers for their support during the year, Niall wished them all and their families a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year

When asked if the snow and freezing conditions halted his service this week, Niall said there was only three years in his memory when adverse weather stopped deliveries – 1982, 2010 and 2018.

A member of Shamrock Rovers, Niall is extremely proud of the service he provides and for continuing the family tradition.

“This job is massively important to me,” he said.

“When I tell people I’m a milkman, they may think it’s a trivial thing but not to me.”

Looking forward to the future, Niall believes he’ll finish off as he started – full electric.

Niall’s father Sean deliverying milk like his father before him

“I started in an electric float and now have a diesel van,” he said.

“However, I reckon when I retire, please God, it will be in an electric van.”

Thanking all his customers for their support during the year, Niall wished them all and their families “a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year”.

Contact Niall at niallcassidymilk@yahoo.ie