*Official ribbon cutting at Woodie’s Ballymaley Business Park, photo by Eamon Ward.
Ireland’s leading DIY, Home & Garden retailer opens its 36th store nationwide, creating 34 new local jobs in Ennis.
Hundreds of local shoppers turned out in Ennis last Saturday as Woodie’s officially opened the doors to its first-ever County Clare store. The new store opening brings 34 new jobs to the area which is a significant investment in the town, and a new destination for home improvement, DIY and gardening enthusiasts across the county.
Located in Ballymaley Business Park, the new 21,000sq ft store was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Woodie’s CEO Damien Dwyer and the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Mary Howard, alongside the store’s new team of colleagues.
Excitement was building from the early hours of the morning, with customers queuing from as early as 3am to take advantage of exclusive opening offers. The opening day had a strong community feel, with hundreds of locals enjoying complimentary speciality coffees, ice creams and Woodie’s cupcakes, while children took part in face painting and customers tried their luck on the in-store prize wheel.
The new local jobs, include specialist horticultural roles as well as a mix of full and part-time positions, bringing new employment opportunities to the area.
Speaking at the opening, Damien Dwyer, CEO of Woodie’s, said:
“Today is a really special day for us as we open our first store in Co. Clare. The welcome we’ve received from the community in Ennis has been fantastic and it’s wonderful to see so many join us to celebrate.
“For years we’ve had customers from Clare travelling to our stores in neighbouring counties, so we’re delighted to finally bring our 36th Woodie’s store to Ennis. We’re proud to be creating local jobs and investing in the county. We know there is a strong appetite across Clare for quality home improvement, gardening and DIY products, backed by knowledgeable colleagues who are passionate about helping customers bring their projects to life.”
Adding to this, Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Mary Howard, said: “This is a really positive investment for Ennis. Woodie’s arrival brings new jobs, new energy and a strong commitment to community. It’s great to see a business not only investing in the town but also bringing a long-vacant site back into use and creating new opportunities for the local economy.”
The new Woodie’s Ennis store has transformed a previously vacant site into a vibrant destination for homeowners, gardeners and DIY enthusiasts. Featuring an outdoor garden centre and over 100 customer parking spaces, the store has been designed to make shopping easy and enjoyable for customers from across Clare and the wider Mid-West region. The store offers thousands of home improvement, garden and DIY products, supported by an experienced team ready to provide practical advice and inspiration for projects of every size.
The opening marks just the beginning of Woodie’s commitment to Ennis and the wider Clare community. As part of its long-standing focus on supporting local communities, the retailer will next month unveil plans to support local sports clubs and community organisations across Clare through its Community Fund initiative, helping groups that bring people together and make a positive impact locally.
For more information visit www.woodies.ie.
