Shaws Department Stores
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Genre | Department stores |
| Founded | 1864 in Mountmellick[1] |
| Founder | Henry Shaw[1] |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 17[3] (2026) |
Area served | Ireland |
Key people | Jonathan Shaw (managing director),[4] Conrad Digan (CEO)[5] |
| Revenue | €70.5 million[6] (2024) |
| €847,687[6] (2024) | |
Number of employees | 702[6] (2024) |
| Website | shaws |
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.[7] After opening shops in Portlaoise and Athy, the business was registered as a limited company in 1934.[8]
During the early to mid 20th century, the business was controlled by William Henry Shaw and then Samuel Shaw.[7] 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][11] In 1984, Haddens in Carlow was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in the following years.[14]
Between 2003 and 2008, the business opened new shops in Wexford, Carlow, Castlebar, Drogheda and Ballina.[11]
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.[11]
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.[9]
In late 2024, the business opened a shop in Athlone.[7]
As of 2025, the business had 16 shops throughout Ireland, employed over 700 people, and continued to be owned by the Shaw family.[15] The current managing director is Jonathan Shaw, grandson of Samuel Shaw.[11]
In April 2026, Shaws opened a new shop in Clonmel, bringing its total to 17.[16]