Irish Brands No Longer With Us

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 1:46pm #1

It is amazing how quickly things change. Today Ireland is awash with international brands that shape the way we live. Back in the post war years many of the brands were of Irish manufacture. Anyone care to share a few memories of times past?

I will kick start this by mentioning Blackthorn football boots from Dundalk, Castlebrand cookware from Nenagh and Solus lightbulbs from Bray. Anyone else what to contribute to this?

Jip · 30-09-2009 3:49pm

Solus still exist don't they?

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 3:58pm

You may be right but they aren't making lightbulbs to my knowledge

smilerf · 30-09-2009 4:33pm

the immediate from dublin.
they only had 1 album before they broke up in 07 but it is pure class
amazing live too
i was lucky to see them twice

phill106 · 30-09-2009 4:35pm

smilerf wrote: »

the immediate from dublin.
they only had 1 album before they broke up in 07 but it is pure class
amazing live too
i was lucky to see them twice

have another cup of coffee, its bRands not bands

waterford crystal anyone?

allanb49 · 30-09-2009 4:36pm

Think he said bRands not bands lol, sparkles ice pops know hb still do ice creams but the sugar ones i miss

smilerf · 30-09-2009 4:38pm

haha specsavers here i come!!

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 4:40pm

Nice one. Perhaps he has had a long day! Indeed yes Waterford Crystal. Arklow Pottery come to that (before it was owned by the Japanese). We also had several carpet brands - Navan and Youghal for example. Carrolls cigarettes too

vektarman · 30-09-2009 4:53pm

Maguire and paterson the matchmakers, and no they weren't a dating agency..:)

lil'bug · 30-09-2009 5:02pm

pear sparkles were the best

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 5:05pm

M&P used to manufacture around Smithfield somewhere. They were absorbed into Swedish Match who switched manufacturing abroad. The major M&P braqnds like Care, Friendly Match and Bo Peep are still around and were acquired by Belfast based SHS Group that also own a stack of food and drink brands like Shloer and WKP. Sadly there is no match manufacturing at all in either Ireland or GB but at least the brands are still around.

Fuzzy Clam · 30-09-2009 5:10pm

Are we including international brands manufactured in Ireland?

If so. iirc, Kelloggs up till the 80's. I prefered them then too.

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 5:50pm

Frankly I was thinking only of locally grown brands that were designed and manufactured in Ireland. Think of names like Urney, Cleeves, Findlaters, Foxford Rugs, Blarney Yarns, Crannock Furniture, Rosses Tonic Water etc and you will seek what I am driving at

trad · 30-09-2009 5:52pm

Bolands biscuits

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 6:00pm

Excellent example. They were absorbed into Irish busicuits as a joint venture with Jacobs who ultimately bought them out. Sadly the Bolands name is long gone. Remember the Billy Boland bars/biscuits? They were a bit like Penguins.

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 6:05pm

Anyone remember Greenhills towels and tableware. Our house was full of it.

Ann22 · 30-09-2009 6:16pm

Did you mean 'Cara' matches Scribbler?
Does Shield soap still exist? It was lovely. Remember Lifebuoy soap? My uncle used to use it. My cousin found a piece of it on the worktop once, thought it was a piece of corned beef and popped it into her mouth:D.

murf313 · 30-09-2009 6:18pm

TheScribbler wrote: »

It is amazing how quickly things change. Today Ireland is awash with international brands that shape the way we live. Back in the post war years many of the brands were of Irish manufacture. Anyone care to share a few memories of times past?

I will kick start this by mentioning Blackthorn football boots from Dundalk, Castlebrand cookware from Nenagh and Solus lightbulbs from Bray. Anyone else what to contribute to this?

blackthorn manufactured the armies boots up until a few years ago!

branie · 30-09-2009 7:08pm

Yellowpack (quinnsworth)

gipi · 30-09-2009 7:52pm

H Williams the supermarket - was bought by Albert Gubay who in turn was bought by Quinnsworth....who in turn was bought by Tesco!

vektarman · 30-09-2009 8:51pm

Swastika laundry. If we include bakeries I'm thinking of Kennedys and Butterkrust. Great thread BTW.

Amalgam · 30-09-2009 9:03pm

The Irish 'Leaf' sweet company? I know there's an international one, but isn't that different?

I miss golf ball shaped chewing gums.. [retro sniff]

Ruu_Old · 30-09-2009 9:16pm

The copy books in Irish schools (the ones with a footballer, hurler, rugby player, etc) on the front. Did Aisling make those as well?

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 10:58pm

Ann22, you are quite right I meant Cara. I'm all thumbs today

TheScribbler · 30-09-2009 11:02pm

Vaktarman, RUU & Amalgam brilliant contrubutions. Downes Butterkrust I remember that very well and the Aisling copy books, now that does take me back. Browne & Nolan also used to do those copy books that were designed help improve one's writing. They used to carry public service messages on the back covers (like washing hands etc) and had conversion tables printed on the rear covers sometimes

GerardKeating · 01-10-2009 7:37am

gipi wrote: »

H Williams the supermarket - was bought by Albert Gubay who in turn was bought by Quinnsworth....who in turn was bought by Tesco!

No, Gubay had "3 Guys" which was bought by Quinnworth.

When H Williams went, it was bought by some invester (Pascal something) the biggest 3 or 4 stores went to Quinnsworth, the rest went to Musgraves and became SuperValu...

mental07 · 01-10-2009 7:55am

K.V.I.

Amalgam · 01-10-2009 10:12am

GerardKeating wrote: »

No, Gubay had "3 Guys" which was bought by Quinnworth.

When H Williams went, it was bought by some invester (Pascal something) the biggest 3 or 4 stores went to Quinnsworth, the rest went to Musgraves and became SuperValu...

People tend to think the 'pallet' retail idea was a Lidl or Aldi creation. 3 Guys out in Ballybrack had it.. it was like walking into a barn, untiled floors and a corrugated roof.. stock straight from a pallet. It's a Tesco now.

Amalgam · 01-10-2009 10:15am

McKennas Electrical. They had one of their well known branches out in Deansgrange, South Dublin.

uch · 01-10-2009 10:38am

Phoenix Ale

Jip · 01-10-2009 1:22pm

TheScribbler wrote: »

You may be right but they aren't making lightbulbs to my knowledge

http://www.solus.ie/products.htm

Irish Brands No Longer With Us

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