Guineys (/ˈɡaɪniːz/), is a chain of Irish department stores founded in June 1971. The chain specialises in homewares, menswear, womenswear and children's clothing.[1] They have 11 stores in Ireland, located in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Castlebar, Tralee, Cork, Clonmel, Mullingar, Kilkenny,[2] and, as of December 2018, one in Northern Ireland, at Castle Place in central Belfast. It is well known for having its two Dublin stores almost within sight of each other - one on North Earl Street and one on Talbot Street, two streets which run directly into each other, off O'Connell Street.[3]
 Logo used since 2015 | |
 Guineys store in Mullingar | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 4 June 1971 in Dublin, Ireland |
| Headquarters | 11-12 North Earl Street, , |
Number of locations | 11 (2023) |
Key people | Michael Guiney (Managing Director) |
| Products | Homewares, menswear, womenswear and children's clothing |
Number of employees | 200 |
| Website | guineys |
History
editThe company was registered on 4 June 1971 as Michael Guiney Limited.[4] The chain was solely Dublin based until 1992 when a branch in Cork was opened. Other branches followed in Tralee and Waterford (2004).
The Limerick store was opened in late 2004, occupying the long vacant anchor tenancy of what was previously the Williamscourt Mall on William Street. The Castlebar store opened in December 2008.
Guiney's launched their online store in 2012 which delivers to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland. A store was opened in Clonmel in December 2013 then the Mullingar and Kilkenny stores opened in 2015.
The store that opened in December 2018 at Castle Place in central Belfast was the first Guiney's anywhere in the nine counties of Ulster, and is located in a 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2) unit which once housed a British Home Stores branch until August 2016.[5][6]
Michael Guiney
editMichael Guiney came from Limerick and had been working for his uncle[7] Denis Guiney as the buyer of household goods and furnishings at Clerys, before setting up his own Dublin store under the Guineys name in 1971.[8][9] For many years there were three shops on Dublin’s Talbot Street all with the name Guiney in the name, as Michael's stores were joined on the street by Guineys & Co at 79-80 Talbot Street, set up by Clerys/Denis Guiney and in operation until 2012.[10][11]
Stores
editAs of 2022 Guineys has twelve stores located in Leinster, Munster, Connacht & Ulster, with two in Dublin.[12]
- Guineys Belfast
- Guineys Castlebar
- Guineys Clonmel
- Guineys Dublin (North Earl Street and Talbot Street)
- Guineys Dundalk
- Michael Guineys Cork
- Guineys Kilkenny
- Guineys Limerick
- Guineys Mullingar
- Guineys Tralee
- Guineys Waterford
External links
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "15 tweets that sum up Ireland's relationship with Michael Guineys". Daily Edge. 11 April 2016.
- ^ "About Us | The Story behind Michael Guineys". guineys.ie.
- ^ Deegan, Gordon (29 November 2016). "Guineys back in the black with €116,662 annual profit". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Michael Guiney Limited - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ Carrigan, Christine (22 August 2018). "Guineys to set up in Belfast with first store in the North". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Guineys Belfast launch 'encouraging' for city". Belfast Telegraph. 11 December 2018.
- ^ "'You go in for your tea towels and come out with a wheelbarrow': Guineys marks 50 years in business". 2 July 2021.
- ^ "'You go in for your tea towels and come out with a wheelbarrow': Guineys marks 50 years in business". 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Guineys celebrate 50 years with an incredible 50% off sale". 28 June 2021.
- ^ "So exactly WHICH Guineys is closing down?".
- ^ "It had everything from 'a needle to an anchor': Shoppers remember Guiney and Co".
- ^ "Store Information | Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Tralee, Limerick, Castlebar, Clonmel, Mullingar, Kilkenny, Dundalk, Belfast".
- ^ "So exactly WHICH Guineys is closing down?".
- ^ "It had everything from 'a needle to an anchor': Shoppers remember Guiney and Co".