Shaws Department Stores

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]