Limerick Department Stores

1858 – Cannock, Tait and Co. Department Store, Limerick

Architect: William Fogerty

Part of the building was constructed in 1858 and described in The Irish Builder, February 1 1859: “Messrs.

1860s – McBirney & Co., Limerick

McBirney’s Drapery Emporium which was taken over by Roches Stores in the 1940’s. The building was burned to the ground in a disastrous fire in 1948 which also destroyed a neighbouring building also used by Roches.

1864 – Cannock, Tait and Co. Furniture Store, Limerick

Architect: William Fogerty

A 2-storey furniture & carpet department facing Sarsfield Street was added to Cannock, Tait and Co.,

1874 – Todd’s Department Store, Limerick

Architect: William S. Cox

Todd’s was a Limerick landmark with a stately interior, long and wide mahogany counters, and an all-round balcony with cast-iron ornamental railings.

1948 – Former Roches Stores, O’Connell Street, Limerick,

A fine corner building, but stylistically old-fashioned by the time of its construction. The corner entrance has a a double-height polished limestone surround.

1963 – Cannock’s Department Store, Limerick

Architect: John C. Thompson

Cannock’s department store was a mecca for Limerick shoppers until its sad decline and closure in the 1980s.

1963 – Todd’s, O’Connell Street, Limerick

Architect: Charles J. Quinn

Built as a more than 76,000 sq.ft replacement for the previous Victorian store which had been destroyed in a massive fire on August 25 1959.

1963 – Woolworth’s O’Connell Street, Limerick

Architect: Douglas W. Hardy

The 97th Woolworths store opened in Limerick, on O’Connell Street in 1921. The original building was the Limerick Furnishing Warehouse.

1965 – Winstons & Besco, William Street, Limerick

Former Winstons Department Store, joined by Besco, a supermarket chain. 16,000 sq.ft. of store with 10,000 sq.ft. devoted to drapery. Interesting concrete loggia with recessed large windows to retail hall.