Ireland’s largest watch retailer Weir & Sons is expanding north of the River Liffey in Dublin by acquiring McDowell Jewellers in the Ilac shopping district of the city.
Weir & Sons vast watches and jewellery emporium on the historic Grafton Street is less than a kilometre from McDowell, but the acquisition gives the business an outpost in the increasingly important district to the north.
McDowells is known as the Happy Ring House, but also offers a range of mid-priced watches.
Weir & Son says it is looking forward to continuing the McDowell legacy, but will want to add some of its premium Swiss watch brands to the store.
“It is a very exciting time for the business with the introduction of some new brands to the store and welcoming back some much-loved familiar watch faces. Together we are stronger,” a statement from Weir & Sons says.
There is only a year between Weir & Sons and McDowells Jewellers, founded in 1869 and 1870 respectively.
Founded in 1870 by William McDowell, McDowells is the longest established business on O’Connell’s Street.
It survived the 1916 Easter Rising where it was destroyed and looted.
The store was rebuilt the following year in 1917 using some of the original girders.
Hello, I’m writing this email to enquire about an heirloom which I was left to myself by my late Father ,Thomas Malone, he left me my Grandmother’s beautiful gold R M’dowell and son high street belfast Madina 9ct solid gold ladies wristwatch, 1920, its still in excellent working condition and has a original small paper bag with it ,My Grandparents moved to Scotland after the war, now the reason I am emailing you is that I would deeply appreciate it if you could please help me find the original box that came with the watch as I am leaving it to my daughter and I think that because it is such a beautiful antique and a big part of my family history. Kind regards David Malone.