IF you’ve spent any time in the twin towns of Ballina and Killaloe, you’ll know that McKeoghs is a name woven into the fabric of the place.
Since 1860, through six generations of the McKeogh family, this business has stood as a landmark of reliability. Always serving as a hardware store, it once also stood as a bakery, supplying bread to families throughout the west.
Today, under the guidance of Noel and Rosemarie McKeogh and their daughter Chiara, McKeoghs continue to prove that in a consumer-driven economy, the value of local expertise never goes out of style.
At the centre of the business is manager Freddy McInerney. A “Clare man through and through” and resident of Bunratty, Freddy has spent 21 years at McKeoghs. He heads up a team that brings over a century of combined experience to the counter.
“It’s not like walking into a place where nobody knows your name. We’re there to help you out, we’re on hand to give advice and help customers carry their purchase out to the car,” Freddy tells The Clare Echo.
Freddy describes the business as a balance between the “heavy” and the “soft” sides of home building and decor.
On the heavy side, you’ll find Thomas and Nick, men who understand the products they’re selling. Thomas, a former construction foreman, and Nick, a former plumber, provide the kind of practical insight that saves a DIY-er hours of frustration. Across the yard, Chiara’s husband Kieran Keeney, Yard Manager, coordinates the transport and yard operations with his valued staff, Mike, Ollie, Declan & Daniel.
Transitioning to the “soft” side, Grace, Jackie, and Chiara lead the interiors and decor departments. “It’s like having interior designers under the roof,” Freddy says. “Whether you’re looking for the right shade of paint or advice on garden furniture, the girls have that eye for detail that turns a house into a home”.
The scale of the 11,000-square-foot shop is surprising given its town-centre location. Spread over three floors, it offers a logical journey through the life of a project: The Lower Floor, a haven for homewares, soft furnishings, and a comprehensive paint section. The Middle Floor; the traditional heartbeat of the store, stocked with general hardware; and the Upper Floor; Home to high-end showrooms. Here, customers can browse small and large electrical appliances, or walk through the floors and doors gallery. There’s even a dedicated tile and bathroom showroom to help visualize a total renovation.
Recent years have tested the resilience of Killaloe and Ballina. Between the lockdowns and the significant disruption of the new bridge construction, getting around wasn’t always easy. But Freddy sees the silver lining. “The new bridge has been a huge addition,” he explains. “The traffic congestion that used to back up for miles is gone. It’s made the villages accessible again, not just for locals, but for people coming from Scariff, Tulla, and right across our hinterland” which Freddy notes encompasses many parts of Clare, Tipperary and Limerick.
Freddy is quick to point out that a visit to McKeoghs is often part of a wider day out. There are destination shops like Joanne’s boutique nearby, Brogan’s Pharmacy & Opticians, and local favourites like Pitstop, The Wooden Spoon, Flanagans on the Weir or Goosers. New additions like Brush & Blush and ASecure mean the town has regained its status as a vibrant hub. “It’s much nicer than the Lakes of Killarney if you ask me, you can do a full loop of Lough Derg, it’s fabulous”.
As the season turns to gardening and outdoor living, the yard at McKeoghs is filling with composite decking, exterior porcelain paving, and everything needed to make the most of the Irish summer. “People are getting ready to paint outside so lots of people are exploring our Dulex Weathershield and Colourtrend exterior paints range. The minute you get fine weather the exterior takes off”.
For Freddy and the McKeogh family, the most important ingredient is a sense of community and personal service. “I’d just like to thank our customers for supporting us through thick and thin,” Freddy says.
“It would have been easy for people to avoid the village when the bridge construction was at its peak, but they stuck with us. In return, we try to give back, whether that’s providing free parking in the centre of town or just making sure we’re always here to give the best advice as fast as we can”.
