Located in the West Cork fishing village of Castletownbere, Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden (also known as Harrington’s Hardware) is a one stop shop for all your outdoor living, gardening, household, electrical and home decor needs.
Harrington’s has been at the heart of life in Castletownbere since 1869. The late Michael Harrington acquired the Church Gate premises from Donal Harrington (no relation) and ran a hardware and grocery store for over 40 years before handing over the reins to his son Paul in 2008.
Michael was also a funeral director, and this side of the business is now run by his daughter Ella.
In 1997, Harrington’s joined ARRO, a buying group for over 100 independent DIY stores and builders’ merchants throughout Ireland.
Harrington’s continued to trade as a hardware and grocery outlet until about a decade ago when Michael and Paul decided to concentrate on hardware only. The family-run business has grown significantly since then and now employs eight staff.
There are thousands of products to be found in store to suit as many needs as possible. If Harrington’s don’t have something in stock, they will always do their best to source it.
Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden are experts in the supply of DIY, outdoor living, garden, household, electrical and home décor products. The products in stock are manufactured by the leading brands in their industries, meaning quality and reliability is assured.
In the summer, there is a terrific range of garden furniture and barbeques available, while Harrington’s is the best place to stock up on your briquettes, coal and gas at the most competitive prices during the winter months.
Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden provides a professional and friendly service, coupled with the best advice on their vast range of products.
Staff members have many years of experience in the trade and are happy to help you in any way they can. Aftercare queries and advice is always forthcoming. A prompt delivery service is also provided to the people of Castletownbere and its hinterland.
Harrington’s operates two vehicles – a Mitsubishi Canter and a Volvo FL6 with crane – for this purpose. The centrally-located premises have undergone a number of transformations down through the years, while retaining its distinctive stone shop front at the same time. The premises are currently undergoing major renovation and extension works.
The extension incorporates new paint, white goods, electrical and gardening departments, and will see floor space increase from 5,000 to 7,000 square feet.
Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden boasts a wide and varied customerbase, including fishermen, farmers and builders. It has long provided a vital service to the people of the beautiful Beara Peninsula who would have otherwise had to travel to Bantry, Kenmare or even Cork city for their hardware requirements.
“We try to cater for everyone,” Paul Harrington says. “You need to have a bit of everything because Bantry is the nearest town to us and that’s 30 minutes’ drive away. Kenmare is 40 minutes away. When the extension is complete, there will be a bigger choice of goods than ever for our customers.
“We’re here a long time in Castletownbere and have built up a very strong and loyal customer-base. Our customers have struck up a great rapport with our staff, who have also stayed loyal to us. Stephen Sullivan, for example, has been with us for nearly 20 years. Our staff have decades of experience between them.”
With the economy picking up and Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden expanding its operations, Paul is hoping to be in a position to take on additional staff in the near future.
“Hopefully, the extension will lead to the creation of a few extra jobs. We have a great crew at the moment who provide a terrific service. Things are looking up on the economic front, so we’ll see what happens.”
As already mentioned, the late Michael Harrington was the face of Harrington’s Hardware for four decades. He was also well-known in local political and sporting circles, having served as a Fine Gael County Councillor for a number of years. Michael died in February 2010, while his wife Carmel passed away in 2013.
Opening hours at Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden are from 8.30am to 6pm Monday-Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.
Be sure to drop in the next time you’re in the area!
Harrington’s ARRO Home & Garden
Church Gate,
Castletownbere,
Co. Cork.
Telephone: 027 70011
Mobile: 086 1936275
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland magazine Vol 1 No 1, Autumn 2015
