Penneys stores in Limerick, Clare, and Laois set for major revamp after Dublin flagship's €5m refurb

Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain with store manager Piers Cunningham and area manager Andrew Murray at the opening of the refurbished O'Connell Street Penneys store. Picture: Julian Behal

Two Penneys stores in Munster are set for major redevelopment after the company completed a €5m refurbishment of its landmark O’Connell Street store in Dublin.

The retail giant has undertaken a €250m investment programme in its 38 stores in the Republic of Ireland, and said on Thursday further developments are now earmarked for Limerick, Ennis, and Portlaoise.

The O’Connell Street store revamp is the latest milestone in Primark’s redevelopment programme. The 52,400sq ft premises on Dublin's main thoroughfare, first opened in 1992 and now employing 250 people, has seen an additional 1,217 sq ft of reclaimed space fromm relocated fitting rooms and service areas.

Dublin town chief executive Richard Guiney said the Penneys brand has been "synonymous with city’s northern retail core for over 50 years". "The commitment demonstrated by this investment is truly welcome. It represents a vote of confidence in a district that is re-establishing itself as a premier destination and one that has been recognised as such by the Taoiseach’s Taskforce For Dublin."

Penneys and Primark employ 80,000 people in 17 countries in Europe and the US. Originally founded in Ireland in 1969, Primark has over 460 stores globally.