Up To 100 Shops Closing Yearly – But Kildare’s Retail Scene Remains Strong

Monday, 9 June 2025 14:10

By Martin Osborne

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association says up to 100 are shutting each year, with the rate of closures up since the Covid pandemic.

Rising business costs and an increase in crime are among the reasons local shops are closing down.

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association says up to 100 are shutting each year, with the rate of closures up since the Covid pandemic.

The association says rural areas are particularly impacted by a shop's closure.

Vincent Jennings, CEO of the association said Kildare is generally performing well due to population growth and many people still working from home.

He said a major concern across the country is that many operators don't have the option of passing their family businesses on to the next generation.

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