Best Clothing Stores in Ireland: Top Shops & Centres

There’s something about a good shopping day in Dublin that still feels like a proper occasion, even in an age of same-day delivery. Whether you’re after the biggest high-street names, a traditional Aran sweater, or the best shopping centre for a full afternoon out, the city and its surroundings serve up plenty of choice.

Largest shopping centre in Ireland: Dundrum Town Centre (1.1 million sq ft) · Most visited clothing retailer in Ireland: Primark (Penney’s) · Key Irish clothing retailer: Dunnes Stores · Popular Irish clothing item for tourists: Aran sweaters

The pattern is clear: Dublin’s retail landscape splits between premium city-centre heritage and suburban scale, with each zone serving a different kind of shopper.

What are the top 10 clothing stores?

Top high-street chains in Ireland

• Primark (known as Penneys in parts of Ireland) is the largest clothing retailer in Ireland by revenue and store count, with 37 locations nationwide. Its Dublin flagship on Henry Street is among its busiest stores (HeyDublin, a Dublin tourism and retail guide).
• Dunnes Stores, an Irish-owned retailer based in Dublin, sells fashion, homeware, and groceries across dozens of outlets (Dunnes Stores, Ireland’s largest homegrown retailer).
• River Island has a strong presence in Irish shopping centres such as Dundrum and Liffey Valley (River Island, a UK-based high-street fashion chain).
• Next operates multiple stores in Ireland, including at Liffey Valley and The Square Tallaght (Next Ireland, a multichannel clothing and homeware retailer).

Luxury and independent boutiques

• Brown Thomas on Grafton Street is Ireland’s premier luxury department store, housing international designer brands and high-end Irish labels.
• Independent boutiques such as Sóley, Helen McAlinden, and Irish Design Gallery in the Creative Quarter offer unique, locally made fashion.

Online vs in-store shopping options

• ASOS and Boohoo remain popular online destinations for Irish shoppers.
• Dunnes Stores and Next offer robust click-and-collect services across Ireland.

The implication: for a full wardrobe refresh, the mix of high-street chains and boutiques means no single store dominates — the choice depends on budget and style preference.

Where are some good clothes shops in Dublin?

Dublin city centre: Grafton Street and Henry Street

• Grafton Street is Dublin’s premier shopping street, home to Dunnes Stores, Brown Thomas, and flagship stores of international brands. It runs from St. Stephen’s Green to College Green and is pedestrianised for much of its length.
• Henry Street is the city’s value-fashion corridor, dominated by the Primark (Penneys) flagship and anchored by the Jervis Shopping Centre (home to JD Sports, Stradivarius, M&S, and Pandora) (Jervis Shopping Centre, a major Henry Street retail hub). The Ilac Centre also sits on this strip (Jackson Court, a Dublin property and shopping guide).

Shopping centres: Dundrum, Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown

For a full-day trip, Dublin’s suburban centres offer scale.

• Dundrum Town Centre (1.1 million sq ft) is Ireland’s largest shopping centre, with over 160 stores including H&M, Zara, Hugo Boss, and a dozen independent fashion retailers. It runs extended hours on Thursdays and Sundays (HeyDublin, a Dublin tourism and retail guide).
• Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in west Dublin has around 90 stores (Penneys, Next, River Island, M&S) and emphasises family-friendly amenities with free parking and easy M50 access (HeyDublin, a Dublin tourism and retail guide).
• Blanchardstown Centre is another large destination with a mix of high-street and discount retailers.

Boutique districts: Temple Bar, George’s Street Arcade

• George’s Street Arcade (Dublin’s oldest shopping arcade) is a hub for vintage, second-hand, and independent fashion labels.
• Powerscourt Townhouse on South William Street houses curated Irish and international boutiques in a restored Georgian building (HeyDublin, a Dublin tourism and retail guide).
• The Creative Quarter (around Drury Street and South William Street) is where you’ll find local Irish designers like Helen McAlinden and Sóley.

What this means: for the visitor with limited time, the city-centre Grafton–Henry axis covers the essentials in one walkable sweep. The suburban centres demand a dedicated half-day but reward with more choice, parking, and later hours.

What brand is Gen Z wearing?

Shein and fast fashion dominance

• Shein is the most searched fast-fashion brand among Gen Z in Ireland, according to retail trend data. Its ultra-low prices and rapid refresh model appeal strongly to younger shoppers.
• Primark remains a dominant physical-store option for Gen Z, especially its Henry Street flagship.

Sustainable brands gaining traction in Ireland

• Local brands like Sóley (slow fashion knitwear) and Helen McAlinden (sustainable womenswear) appeal to eco-conscious shoppers who want Irish-made alternatives to fast fashion.
• Dunnes Stores’ “Saw It. Loved It. Got It.” campaign targets Gen Z with affordable, trend-led collections that match the speed of social media cycles.

Influencer-driven brands and local labels

• River Island collaborates regularly with Irish and UK influencers to attract younger demographics.
• JD Sports in the Jervis Centre draws Gen Z with streetwear, trainers, and sneaker-culture events (Jervis Shopping Centre, a major Henry Street retail hub).

The pattern: Gen Z in Ireland shops across a split spectrum — ultra-low-cost online (Shein) for basics, physical fast-fashion (Primark, Dunnes) for trend pieces, and local sustainable brands for statement or event wear.

What are the most popular clothing brands in Ireland?

International high-street brands

• Primark (Penneys) is by revenue and visits the most popular clothing retailer in Ireland.
• Dunnes Stores is the most widely recognised Irish-owned fashion and home retailer.
• Next and River Island have loyal followings, particularly in larger shopping centres.

Irish heritage brands

• Aran Crafts and Inis Meáin produce traditional Aran sweaters, a must-buy clothing item for tourists in Ireland.
• Magee 1866, based in Donegal, is known for tweed and heritage tailoring.

Online-first direct-to-consumer brands

• ASOS and Boohoo are the most visited online fashion platforms in Ireland.
• Lir of Ireland is an Irish-based online brand specialising in contemporary knitwear.

The implication: Ireland’s most popular brands span international fast-fashion giants, homegrown heritage labels, and pure-play online retailers — reflecting a market that values both global trends and local tradition.

What is the Irish version of Primark?

How Primark operates in Ireland (branded as Penneys in some locations)

• Primark is historically known as Penneys in Ireland. The name was used when the chain first opened in Dublin in 1969 and has stuck ever since. Both names refer to the same company, but the Penneys branding is used on storefronts in the Republic of Ireland.
• Primark’s low prices and trendy designs make it the leading budget retailer in Ireland, particularly for basics, fast fashion, and homeware.

Comparisons with Dunnes Stores and Penneys

• Dunnes Stores is often seen as a slightly more premium alternative to Primark, with a stronger emphasis on quality fabrics and Irish design — and a broader offer that includes food and home.
• Next occupies a higher price bracket than Primark but positions itself as accessible mid-range for workwear and occasion dressing.

Why Primark is so popular among Irish shoppers

• Affordability: Primark’s prices are among the lowest in Europe for fashion basics.
• Accessibility: 37 stores across Ireland, concentrated in Dublin but covering most regional towns.
• Trend responsiveness: Primark’s turnaround from catwalk to shelf is faster than most department stores, giving Irish shoppers quick access to affordable trends.

The catch: Primark’s dominance comes at the cost of longevity — cheap prices mean faster turnover, which contrasts with the durability of Irish heritage brands.

Is Liffey Valley or Dundrum better?

Four differences separate these two Dublin shopping heavyweights. The choice depends on what a shopper prioritises: fashion variety, convenience, or family-friendly extras.

The pattern: Dundrum wins on sheer fashion variety and premium labels. Liffey Valley wins on convenience and ease of access for car-based family shopping trips. There is no universal “better” — only the right choice for a shopper’s specific trip purpose.

Where to find plus-size clothing in Ireland

• Yours Clothing has a store at The Square Tallaght (South Dublin County Council, listing The Square’s stores and services), and also at Liffey Valley.
• Dunnes Stores offers extended-size ranges in many of its locations and online.
• Next carries plus-size ranges in-store and online with click-and-collect.
• ASOS Curve and Boohoo Plus are the leading online options for plus-size fashion in Ireland.

The implication: plus-size shoppers in Dublin have both physical and online options, with Yours Clothing providing a dedicated retail presence alongside mainstream chains that now stock extended sizes.

What is a must buy in Ireland?

• Aran sweaters — traditional, hand-crafted woollen jumpers from the Aran Islands. Available at the Aran Sweater Market on Nassau Street, Dublin, and at craft boutiques in Temple Bar and Grafton Street.
• Irish linen — shirts, dresses, and scarves from heritage mills.
• Donegal tweed — jackets, caps, and accessories from Magee 1866 and local weavers.

What this means for tourists: an Aran sweater is the single most iconic clothing purchase, offering both authenticity and a lasting connection to Irish craft traditions.

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Frequently asked questions

For Dublin shoppers — whether local or visiting — the choice between city-centre streets and suburban malls comes down to time and temperament. The Grafton Street arc and Henry Street corridor win on walkability and heritage. Dundrum and Liffey Valley win on scale, convenience, and later hours. For the tourist who wants to leave Ireland with a proper Aran sweater and a memory of Irish retail, the answer is simple: hit the city centre for variety, then the suburbs for range. For the Irish resident restocking their wardrobe, Liffey Valley’s free parking and mid-range focus is the pragmatic choice.