The end of an era as Daly’s Hardware to close after 68 years in Limerick City

The end of an era as Daly’s Hardware to close after 68 years in Limerick City

Limerick institution JC Daly’s Hardware on William Street is set to close its doors for a final time following the announcement of a retirement sale

JC Daly’s Hardware is to close its doors for a final time after more than six decades in business as a retirement sale has begun at the William Street premises.

The closure of the business marks the end of an era with the sale announcement marking the final chapter for a business that has been a cornerstone of the Limerick business community since opening in 1957.

Founded by JC Daly and his wife Helen O’Neill 68 years ago, the store quickly gained a reputation for providing quality tools, home improvement supplies, and above all excellent service which stayed with the company throughout its time in Limerick City Centre.

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As the demand for DIY and home decor products grew, Daly’s Hardware changed with demand and expanded the store size significantly over the decades where it now occupies a two-unit store in the city centre. In the 1970s, the business added a lighting and electrical department and the store would eventually grow to the 300-square-metre premises it is today.

In the 80s, as a true family-run business, John and Helen’s sons, Tony and Roger, joined the business and would later take over the operations, and in recent years the business grew a further generation as Tony’s daughter, Alison, joined the team with the third generation helping the company move into the digital sphere with the launch of the store’s website to help with online shopping.

Over the years, Daly’s has become more than just a shop on one of Limerick’s main shopping streets, it is a welcoming place for regular and new customers where they were assured expert advice from a trusted supplier of all their DIY needs, from paint and wallpaper to tools and electrical fixtures.

Speaking with I Love Limerick about the store’s history as part of the ‘Look For Local’ campaign in 2021, Third-generation owner Ali Daly said, “My great grandfather was a managing director in Newson’s, which was directly across the road from here. My grandfather Joe was working there when he decided to open this place, directly across the road from his father.”

“This building was a bacon curing factory before we took over, and originally it was a bakery. When my grandfather started this business, there were still ovens here from the 1800s. To this day, the basement contains old brick tunnels which run out into the middle of William St. There is a lot of history here.”

Since opening in 1954, Daly’s has passed through three generations, sadly Helen passed away in 2002 and John in 2023 with Roger and Tony remaining as the operators and passing the reigns to Tony’s daughter, Ali.

With no fixed closing date, JC Daly’s will remain open until all stock is sold. The Daly family hopes that longtime patrons will take this opportunity to visit, share memories, and pick up a few final bargains and as the store prepares to close its doors for a final time, its legacy as one of the city’s longest-serving businesses will be cherished for years to come.