It's a special shop window for Women of the Year

They are women of achievement and inspiration, determination and success in an array of categories from business to the arts and education to sports and Mum of the Year. The judges are now considering the nominations and must come up with a winner in each category, as well as the overall winner who will be crowned the BT Woman of the Year in association with Spar at the gala awards ceremony to be held in Belfast's Europa Hotel on Wednesday, November 28. One mother and daughter duo from south Armagh, who have worked for more than three decades with the competition's lead sponsor, Spar, have been avidly following the awards news and are looking forward to the finals. Kathleen Tully and daughter Patricia have run their local Spar shop in Belleeks near Newry for 36 years. It was Kathleen, now 67, who founded the business after starting out in the pub industry when she travelled to the USA at just 15 years of age. However, after meeting her husband there, who coincidentally hailed from a neighbouring Ulster village, the family later returned and soon began a new venture at the heart of the Belleeks community. While Patricia was always involved in the shop even as a child along with her three other siblings, it wasn't until she returned home in 1993 after studying and working abroad that she properly teamed up with her dynamic, hardworking mum to manage the business. The driven 41-year-old, who arrived home full of enthusiasm and new ideas, explains: "The business has always been a part of my life and with a young daughter now myself, I certainly see it staying in the family for quite some time yet. "We refurbished the shop last year to celebrate 35 years in business and are continuing to support and work with our tight-knit community." Kathleen clearly knows what it takes to be successful in business while juggling family life, but coping with long hours between the shop and Post Office during the day and Tully Pub in the evenings isn't for the faint-hearted. She says: "Spending all day in the shop and then the evening running the pub or sitting on the committee of a local association is nothing out of the ordinary. But even after all this time I still thrive on the buzz and the people." And she is quick to point out: "Being busy, whether with work or pulling the community together to raise funds for a good cause or a great night of entertainment, these days are much better and brighter than during the Troubles when times really were hard." She adds: "Local shops are a lifeline for many villagers and the pub is utilised for everything from dance classes for kids to local charity events - where my mum's heart really lies. Meanwhile, the Post Office in the shop is vital for our rural community too." And now as a mum herself, Patricia's well aware of the challenge of balancing home and work life: "Although mum was always busy with the shop and pub, we always knew she was there for us and I try to strike the same balance with my own young daughter. "I mainly run the shop and Post Office which gives me the evenings free, although my daughter already loves helping at the check-out." She concludes: "We see some amazing women through our business and we hope that these awards will help highlight the devotion and tireless hard work many of them put in, often behind the scenes, especially those who don't receive the recognition they really deserve." For tickets for BT Woman of the Year tel: 9076 0066 or email: mail@jprni.com