National Trust calls time on family souvenir shop at Giant’s Causeway

The National Trust is shutting the door on a family business that's been serving visitors to the Giant's Causeway for decades.

Tommy McConaghy's family connection to the Giant's Causeway goes back generations.

His grandfather was selling souvenirs on the famous stones back in 1912.

“He used to take money from the people going through the gates down at the stones before the First World War,” he explained.

“My father made a walking stick for Prince Charles when he came here in 1998, and they used it down at the stones.”

The little shop is just yards from the £18million Causeway Visitor Centre owned by the National Trust.

The McConaghy family was trading at the Causeway years long before the National Trust acquired the world heritage site but it has decided not to renew their lease due to "future visitor needs".

The McConaghys tried to fight the move, but to no avail.

Mr McConaghy added: “We have to be out of here by the 31 January, I think the compensation we’ll be getting is just slightly over £1,000. I just feel rotten.”

The National Trust plans to provide additional toilets and baby changing facilities on the site where the shop currently is.

A statement said: “The National Trust acknowledges the contribution that the McConaghy family has made at the site and confirms the decision to submit the planning application was not taken lightly, but with good intent to address increasing visitor pressures.