Retail big boys come to Killarney

MULTI-MILLION euro shopping developments are on the way for Killarney, where most investment in recent years has been in hotels, restaurants, pubs and tourism-related services.

Killarney has lost out on the retail front to Tralee, where many big-name stores, including Roches Stores and TK Maxx, have located in the out-of-town Manor Retail Park.

But, Marks and Spencer, TK Maxx and other top retailers are expected to move into the former Torc Great Southern Hotel site in Killarney, which is earmarked for major commercial development.

Dunnes Stores and Penneys are understood to be among the anchor tenants.

The hotel has been demolished and the 6.5-acre site sold to Limerick developer Robert Butler for a reported €8 million.

Killarney mayor Tom Doherty welcomed the expansion of shopping facilities.

“If you talk to people on the street, they’ll tell you Killarney is lacking in shops,” he said.