Famous local business name returns to Athlone

The Kilroy name has made a return to the main business thoroughfare in Athlone with the formal opening of Kilroy's Kitchens on Dublingate Street last month.

Proprietor John Kilroy is the grandson of Dermot Kilroy, who owned two Kilroy's stores in the town, the first of which opened in the vicinity of the Crescent in the early 1980s.

The original Kilroy's store sold a wide selection of antiques, furniture and hardware products and became an extremely popular business within the town, complementing existing stores which John's grandfather had also opened in Ballinasloe, Tullamore and Mullingar.

A second store opened on Mardyke Street with a focus on television rentals at a time when many could not afford to purchase a television.

Speaking about the Kilroy family association with Athlone, John said that he was proud to follow in the ways of his grandfather and open a business in the heart of Athlone.

"It is in the family genes you could say and opening the new business on Dublingate Street in close proximity to where my grandfather once had his tv rentals store is certainly a proud moment," John said.

John's father Gary worked with his grandfather in the Athlone stores and passed on his love of the business to the Kilroy's Kitchen proprietor.

"The Kilroy name has been synonymous with business in the Midlands for over four generations and it is a privilege to be in a position to reintroduce the family name to the business fabric of Athlone," John said.