O’Flynn: “Retail closures are hollowing out our towns”
Independent Ireland Chair TD Ken O’Flynn has warned that a steady stream of store closures is “stripping the heart out of Ireland’s high streets” and called for urgent Government action to protect jobs and revitalise town centres.
Over recent months we have witnessed a steady drumbeat of multi-store exits and closures from Ireland’s high street—most recently the closure of River Island’s Henry Street flagship in Dublin (27 June), the liquidation and full exit of New Look with 26 Irish stores and 347 jobs lost, and the closure of five Irish outlets by Quiz following its UK administration. Claire’s has now entered US bankruptcy protection, placing Irish stores at evident risk. These are not isolated events; they are symptoms of a system under strain.
While the national aggregates show modest resilience—retail sales volumes were up 0.6% month-on-month in June (+3.0% year-on-year), and VAT receipts are 4.8% higher year-to-date—the picture on our streets tells a starker story. Department store sales fell on an annual basis in May, and clothing sales dipped month-on-month in June, underscoring fragility in precisely those categories that anchor town centres. Meanwhile, Ireland’s commercial vacancy rate has reached a record 14.5%, with hotspots in the west and north-west well above 18–20%.
“Week after week we are seeing the shutters come down on major retailers,” Deputy O’Flynn said. “These are not isolated events — they are part of a wider pattern that should set alarm bells ringing in every local authority and every Government department.”
While national sales figures show modest growth, Deputy O’Flynn said the reality at street level tells a different story. “Footfall is fragile in key retail categories, vacancy rates are at record highs, and in some areas whole streets are being left with empty shopfronts. When anchor stores close, it has a domino effect — it drains footfall, deters investment, and accelerates decline.”
He warned that falling consumer confidence, persistent cost-of-living pressures, and rising retail crime are combining to put businesses under unsustainable strain. “Local shop owners are absorbing losses that threaten their livelihoods, while uncertainty in the economy is keeping customers cautious. In too many cases, vacancy begets vacancy — and the longer we leave these units empty, the harder they will be to fill.”
Deputy O’Flynn said the Government’s Town Centre First framework “must move from a plan on paper to tangible action on the ground.”
“Our high streets are not just places to shop — they are the heart of community life. Without timely intervention, we risk losing that forever. Protecting jobs, supporting traders, and restoring vibrancy to our towns must be treated as a national priority. The resilience of Irish retailers is remarkable, but resilience alone will not keep our high streets alive.”
