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End of an era for Broderick

End of an era for Broderick

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BRODERICK Furniture in Killanena has been selling furniture and providing local employment in East Clare for more than 75 years but it is to relocate to Ennis.

Its flagship shop has been a feature of the East Clare village and drawing people from across the country to its scenic location overlooking Lough Graney.

The business, which remains family-run, will begin the process of relocating as it prepares to centralise its operations in Ennis and close its doors in Killanena.

The Broderick story began over 75 years ago, when Michael Broderick Senior opened a small grocery shop on a hillside in Killanena. Soon afterwards, he followed with the establishment of a petrol station and a general hardware store.

After the war, Michael travelled by lorry to auctions in Liverpool to buy furniture, which he then sold in Killanena. This proved extremely popular and by the mid-’60s, his son Michael (Mickie) took over the business and started selling new furniture and developing the business further. In the ’70s, Mickie was joined by his business partner, Mossey Clabby.

The ’80s and ’90s were boom times for Broderick Furniture, with deliveries going nationwide.
Michael passed away suddenly in 2004 and his son, Seán, and daughters, Caroline (Mahony) and Clare (McDonald), carried on the business, with trading tripling during the building boom.

In 2009, when all businesses suffered during the economic downturn, Broderick Furniture stayed going in its 70,000ft² premises.

“The biggest blow to our iconic store on the mountain was the opening of the M18 motorway, which cut the county in half,” Caroline said.

Seán outlined that up to the opening of the motorway, 10,000 cars a day passed close to the store, making it very accessible.

“Since the motorway, it has become a chore to get to us,” he said.

For this reason, the family has made the decision to move to a new store in Ennis, just off the motorway network.

Broderick Killanena is to close after more than 75 years.

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