Golden Discs co-founder Jack Fitzgerald dies, aged 94

Jack Fitzgerald and Tom Rogers, who co-founded Golden Discs in the 1960s. Mr Fitzgerald has died, aged 94.

The co-founder of Golden Discs, Jack Fitzgerald, has died, aged 94. 

Mr Fitzgerald co-founded the Trans-Atlantic Record Agency (TARA) with Tom Rogers in 1962. Four years later, in 1966, they rebranded as Golden Discs, opening a store in Ireland’s first shopping mall in Stillorgan.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Golden Discs became a cornerstone of the Irish music industry, with stores nationwide, offering everything from chart-topping albums to concert tickets and VHS rentals. The introduction of CDs and DVDs in the 1980s and 1990s fuelled further growth, leading to the opening of over 100 stores across Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

The advent of streaming saw many stores close but Golden Discs remains a nationwide presence, operating 20 stores nationwide. Mr Fitzgerald's son Stephen continues to develop the family business. "His influence on Ireland’s music industry will be remembered for generations to come," a Golden Discs spokesperson said.

Beyond Golden Discs, Mr Fitzgerald made another lasting impact on the Irish music industry by establishing Tara Records (now Tara Music), in 1972. The label’s first release featured the then-unknown Christy Moore while Tara Recorsd also released other iconic traditional artists including Planxty, Clannad, The Chieftains, Bill Whelan, Davy Spillane, and Liam O’Flynn.

Mr Fitzgerald passed away on Saturday surrounded by his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rose Marie, and their children Gary, Stephen, Barbara, Debbie, and DP. Mr Fitzgerald's funeral mass takes place on Friday March 21 at 11am in Church of the Assumption, Booterstown Avenue. He will be buried at Deans Grange Cemetery.