McElhinney's is a 3-storey fifteen-department store located in Ballybofey, County Donegal. It is the largest department store in Ireland outside Dublin.[2] It has been named National Retail Store of the Year and Best Superstore at the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards, among other awards for Outstanding Customer Service, Occasionwear, Bridal and more.[3] Alongside Finn Park, MacCumhaill Park and a few hotels, McElhinney's is one of Ballybofey's more recognisable landmarks.[4]
There is another store with the same name in County Meath but there is no connection between that and McElhinney's of Ballybofey.[2][5]
History
McElhinney's was founded by John McElhinney in 1968. John McElhinney spent his time driving around Donegal selling his wares from the back of a van. In 1971, he established a small shop in Glenfin Street, Ballybofey, from which he operated for eight years before opening the current Department Store on Lower Main Street in 1979.[2][6] The current business has faced adversity throughout the years, including surviving both a flood in 1985, and firebomb attack in 1987.[7]
In 1977, the store began to sell Wedding Dresses.[8] The Bridal Rooms have been nominated and won multiple awards including; Best Bridal Retailer 2016 by Xposé Frockadvisor Awards,[9] Bridalwear Supplier of the Year 2016 by Weddings Online Awards,[10] and Wedding Boutique of the Year (Borders) at The Irish Wedding Awards 2017,[11] among many others.
1 2 3 Byrne, Andrea (7 December 2007). "Outside the Pale ... but not beyond it". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 7 December 2007. I actually found it rather strange (in a good way) to have staff members greet me in a very genuine manner. It was so different to the reception you'd find in Dublin. Despite the sheer magnitude of the store, they have managed to hold on to that endearing rural, smalltown vibe.
↑ "Have they fallen through a Gap?". Donegal Democrat. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2008. Stretching from the outskirts of Sligo all signs on the main routes towards the north of the county give great prominence to Lifford but very little to the county's largest town Letterkenny and virtually none to either Ballybofey or Stranorlar. It's as if they have all fallen through the Gap or perhaps they assume that everybody knows just how to get to Finn and Mac Cumhaill Parks, the three top class hotels or indeed, McElhinneys.
↑ "McElhinney's closes after 70 years". RTÉ News. RTÉ. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010. McElhinney's Menswear also in Athboy is not affected by the closure and is still trading, so too is McElhinney's of Ballybofey.
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