Dunnes Stores is preparing to close three of its Irish branches just weeks before the Christmas rush, with the first closure set to happen tomorrow.
The retailer confirmed that its Cornelscourt Village outlet in south Dublin will cease trading on Saturday, ending its operations just minutes away from the much larger Cornelscourt Shopping Centre store.
According to reports, two further closures are planned for October 31, including the branch at 48–50 Henry Street inside Dublin’s Ilac Centre, and another in Drogheda, Co. Louth, on West Street.
The Drogheda location holds particular historic significance for the company, having served the community for over 50 years. It was also one of Dunnes’ earliest supermarkets, closely tied to founder Ben Dunne, who described his time as an apprentice draper in the town in 1926 as a “turning point” in his life.
Roughly 27 staff members are expected to be affected by the Drogheda closure. Many employees, some with up to 20 years of service, were said to be “shocked and disappointed” by the news, which was reportedly shared by management earlier this month.
It is understood that Dunnes has offered redeployment options to affected staff at its other local stores — including branches in Scotch Hall, Colpe Cross, and its town-centre clothing outlet — though final arrangements have yet to be confirmed.
The company has not disclosed how many workers will be impacted by the two Dublin closures.
The timing of the decision, so close to the festive trading period, has sparked surprise among retail watchers. Dunnes typically ramps up operations ahead of Christmas, when grocery and clothing sales surge across Ireland. Despite the closures, the supermarket giant continues to operate more than 140 stores nationwide, maintaining a strong foothold in Irish retail.While no official reason has been given for the shutdowns, industry sources suggest the moves could be part of an ongoing streamlining of smaller or overlapping locations. The Cornelscourt Village site, in particular, had long been considered redundant given its proximity to the brand’s flagship suburban store nearby.
The closures mark the end of an era for the Drogheda store, which has been a fixture on West Street since the mid-20th century — a period that saw Dunnes Stores grow from a single Cork drapery into one of Ireland’s largest retail chains. With Christmas now fast approaching, shoppers in the affected areas will have to travel further afield for their seasonal groceries — though Dunnes’ nearby branches are expected to absorb most of the customer demand. The Cornelscourt Village shop will close its doors tomorrow, marking the beginning of the three-store wind-down ahead of the October 31 shutdowns.
