Music Shops Return, Live and In-Person: Monaghan Music & Piano Centre, Ballinode, Co. Monaghan

Just about 10 minutes away from the Northern Ireland border lies Monaghan Music & Piano Centre, a retail and wholesale distributor of musical instruments.

They've been operating for over 30 years, with Niall McClean now running the business that his father Richard started in Ballinode, Co. Monaghan.

Niall says that although business hasn't been outstanding in their first week back, their online sales and distribution of other pianos to other retailers in Ireland and the UK have kept the business running smoothly.

"Last year was our busiest year ever," he says. "We turned over more than we ever did. We supply a lot of piano shops in the UK. Those guys come up in trucks and pick up pianos every Monday before heading back to the UK. That just kept going on throughout the whole year".

Niall says that the lack of joined-up thinking between the governments north and south of the border was a hindrance for many businesses like his that sell to both markets.

"They should be making the same decision between North and South," he points out. "We're only five miles from the border.

"I think we were very slow in this country to open up. We probably should have opened up sooner."

Niall also stresses that many independent retailers need the support of their local customers to keep afloat: "Buy local. Otherwise they're going to close".

You can visit Monaghan Music and Piano Center at Tullaghan, Tullaghan, Ballinode, Co. Monaghan or on their website pianocentre.com