Eileen Madden has run Pro Musica since 1982. She opened it 32 years ago, taking over from McCullough Pigots, after they decided to let their Cork operation go. She had worked there since 1980 and decided to take over the business, even though everyone said I was mad.
1982 was no better a year economically than 2013 is but Pro Musica is still going strong. It has succeeded by creating the right environment to try and get people in to buy instruments, and by keeping prices down.