End of an Era: Grants Newsagents Closes in Dundalk After 75 Years
Dundalk, Louth – After three-quarters of a century serving the community, Grants Newsagents on Dublin Street is set to close its doors this Saturday, March 21, 2026, marking the end of a beloved local institution. The shop, founded by Kathleen Grant on June 1, 1951, has been a fixture in the town’s retail landscape, known for its extensive selection of newspapers, magazines, confectionery, and its popular deli counter.
A Family Legacy
The closure comes as Kathleen Dunne, daughter of the founder, prepares for retirement after a lifetime dedicated to the business. “My mother opened the shop after my father’s death,” Dunne recalled. “She wanted to be able to stay at home, look after her children.” Dunne and her brother, Michael, were both raised in the shop, which initially operated from a modest front room before expanding in 1983.
From Lotto to Local News
Grants Newsagents was among the first retailers in Dundalk to offer the Irish National Lottery, and Dunne fondly remembers selling numerous winning tickets, including one to a local woman who won €280,000 in the early 1980s. The shop also became a hub for local news, with customers regularly queuing for the Tuesday evening edition of The Argus. Dunne noted the shop would order local papers for new residents moving to the town and specialized magazines upon request.
Changing Times
While her son, Patrick, has been involved in the business, and her daughter, Irene, assisted in the deli, the family has collectively decided to close the shop as they pursue other careers. Dunne acknowledged the changing nature of the town and customer relationships. “We’d have a lot of regulars coming in and when new people moved to town, we’d order their local paper for them. We also stock a lot of specialist magazines and order in any that people wanted,” she said. “As the town’s population has grown, that’s not always the case now.”
A Musical Family
The Grant and Dunne families have strong ties to the local arts scene. Kathleen and her late husband, Dessie, who owned a shoe shop in Dundalk Shopping Centre, were known singers in the town. Patrick is the musical director of the S.O.N.G music theatre group, and Irene works as a voice coach, while another daughter, Catherine, teaches nearby at the Friary school.
Looking Ahead
“I’m sorry the shop is closing, but that’s just life, things have moved on,” Kathleen Dunne stated, expressing her intention to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. The closure of Grants Newsagents represents the end of an era for Dundalk, but the family’s legacy of service and community involvement will undoubtedly be remembered.