AFTER 52 years of cutting hair Co Down barber Dermot Collins is preparing for his last day at work.
The well-known barber will cut his last lock of hair this afternoon before shutting up shop on the Harbour Road in Kilkeel.
The 76-year-old great-grandfather, who is originally from Ballymartin, is preparing to say goodbye to his many loyal customers at his old fashioned barber shop in the village.
He admits he has "come a long way" since he began his barber training at the age of 14, working for a business in Kilkeel for five years.
After taking five years out to work in construction in England, he returned to Kilkeel and in 1965 struck up a partnership with the man who had trained him and the pair ran a business together in the town.
Since 1984 he has run the business on his own. But now he says he is looking forward to his retirement.
"I am actually looking forward to it to tell you the truth, to get a bit of peace," he joked. "I will be taking it easy. I used to play outdoor bowls so I will be back to them. I have a lot of grandchildren and the dogs will be looking for attention."
He added: "I probably will miss it but some of the older clients who have told me they will be calling with me at home. A lot of them, I have been cutting their hair for years. When you are cutting a man's hair for 40 or 50 years, you know how he wants it.
"A lot of people have said `What are we going to do? but equally they say `You've earned your rest'."
Mr Collins, who is also well-recognised in GAA circles having played football for Ballymartin GAC and later as a county level referee, said he has enjoyed his work over the years.
"It's a bit sad to be retiring in a way," he said of the job he loved.
"I never had no bother I would be very thankful for all the people in Kilkeel."
