Local estate agent Therese Toal recently opened her new business Toal Auctioneers in Carrickmacross.

Originally from Laragh, Castleblayney, Therese completed her Leaving Certificate in St Louis Secondary School in Carrickmacross and like many other school leavers she had no idea what career path she wanted to take. She began a business studies course in DKIT in Dundalk and during the summer took a secretarial job in an estate agency. Therese really enjoyed dealing with the general public and the estate agency business so she stayed on after the summer and from there worked her way up to sales negotiator.  In 2004 Therese completed her auctioneering and estate agency exams with Irish Professional Auctioneers and Valuers and soon what started as a summer job turned into eleven years.

Therese told monaghanlife.ie that she was brought up to always be independent. Her father is a cattle dealer originally from Armagh so she believes that his occupation is where the ability to sell and the thrill of a successful deal comes from for her. Therese’s mother and sister set up their own business ‘Little Rascals Day Nursery’ in Monaghan and her sister Maria Connolly has just recently taken over a solicitor’s firm in Monaghan town. Therese’s youngest sister Christina is still studying in Dublin.

Therese bought her first house in Foxfield, Carrickmacross in 2003 and resided there with her six-year-old daughter Chloe until she sold it in 2009. Last December she married Inniskeen man Donal McArdle who comes from local business DG McArdle Int and now resides in Tallanstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Being made redundant earlier this year forced Therese to make a decision. With the passion she has for working as an estate agent and the vast experience she has gained over the years, she decided to look into owning her own business. Together with her determination to succeed and encouragement from family and friends she got the courage to set up her own business.

Therese’s main aim is to specialise in residential sales and lettings. With many years experience in the residential market her skills include investment, professional services, property valuations for re-mortgage, probate and legal purposes. With finance not easy to access in the present market, Therese’s main focus will be on the rental market. She hopes to take the strain off landlords and make searching easier for the tenant.