Shaws Department Stores

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Shaw & Sons Ltd
IndustryRetail
GenreDepartment stores
Founded1864; 161 years ago (1864) in Mountmellick[1]
FounderHenry Shaw[1]
Headquarters
Portlaoise[2]
,
Ireland
Number of locations
16[2] (2025)
Area served
Ireland
Key people
Jonathan Shaw (managing director)[3], Conrad Dignan (CEO)[4]
Revenue€70.5 million[5] (2024)
€847,687[5] (2024)
Number of employees
702[5] (2024)
Websiteshaws.ie

Shaws Department Stores is an Irish department store chain founded by Henry Shaw in 1864. It began as a small drapery shop in Mountmellick, County Laois.[1] The business was operated by Henry Shaw and his wife, Annie.[6] After opening shops in Portlaoise and Athy, the business was registered as a limited company in 1934.[7]

During the early to mid 20th century, the business was controlled by William Henry Shaw and then Samuel Shaw.[8] In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, brothers Mervyn, Trevor and Billy Shaw controlled the business.[9]

Shaws opened a shop in Carlow in 1949.[10] In the mid 20th century, the business also expanded into Waterford, Roscrea, Fermoy and Limerick.[11]

In the 1970s, Shaws opened a shop in Dungarvan. It later opened a second shop in the town, which primarily stocked electrical products. In 2024, the electrical shop was closed.[12]

In 1976, Shaws acquired the Haddens department store chain, with the Carlow shop remaining under the Haddens name but the shops in Wexford, Dungarvan and Carlow being rebranded as Shaws.[13][14] In 1984, Haddens in Carlow was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in the following years.[15]

Between 2003 and 2008, the business opened new shops in Wexford, Carlow, Castlebar, Drogheda and Ballina.[16]

In 2013, the business moved to a new 20,000 square foot shop in Portlaoise, closing one of its earliest locations, which had operated for 109 years.[17]

During the 2010s, a dispute arose among the Shaw family in relation to the control of the business. The dispute was ultimately settled in March 2016, with the chairman and a number of directors and family members leaving the business.[18]

In late 2024, the business opened a shop in Athlone.[19]

As of 2025, the business has 16 shops throughout Ireland, employees over 700 people, and continues to be owned by the Shaw family.[20] The current managing director is Jonathan Shaw, grandson of Samuel Shaw.[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Section of Shaws Department Store to close in Dungarvan". WLRFM.com. 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Ganly, Conor (20 September 2024). "Almost nationwide Laois retailer Shaws is expanding". www.leinsterexpress.ie.
  3. ^ "New generation takes the helm as rift ended at Shaws dynasty". Irish Independent. 10 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Shaws store is set for major revamp as it celebrates 75 years in Carlow". Irish Independent. 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Profits fall 68pc to €787,000 at Shaws, but revenues up to €70.5m at the 'omni-channel retailer'". Irish Independent. 9 January 2025.
  6. ^ Ganly, Conor (20 September 2024). "Almost nationwide Laois retailer Shaws is expanding". Leinster Express. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". www.leinsterexpress.ie. 3 September 2014.
  8. ^ Ganly, Conor (20 September 2024). "Almost nationwide Laois retailer Shaws is expanding". Leinster Express. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ^ Mulligan, John (10 March 2016). "New generation takes the helm as rift ended at Shaws dynasty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ^ Bolton-Dowling, Aisling (26 March 2024). "Shaws store is set for major revamp as it celebrates 75 years in Carlow". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". Leinster Express. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ Butler, Kyle (7 October 2024). "Section of Shaws Department Store to close in Dungarvan". WLR FM. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Living Over the Shop: Haddens – a mainstay of the town centre - News - Carlow Nationalist". Carlow Nationalist. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". Leinster Express. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  15. ^ "End of an era as historic Haddens Centre in Carlow goes up for sale - News - Carlow Nationalist". Carlow Nationalist. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". Leinster Express. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". Leinster Express. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  18. ^ Mulligan, John (10 March 2016). "New generation takes the helm as rift ended at Shaws dynasty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  19. ^ Ganly, Conor (20 September 2024). "Almost nationwide Laois retailer Shaws is expanding". Leinster Express. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ^ "A Legacy of Quality and Care Since 1864". Shaws.
  21. ^ "Shaws to celebrate its 150th birthday". Leinster Express. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2025.