Posted on: 22 May 2025

Lidl, voted the Best Value Organisation in Ireland[2], opened the doors to its brand-new store in Claregalway in Co. Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025, taking the retailer’s store count to 11 in the county and creating 30 new jobs in the local area.

Representing an investment of €7 million into the community, Lidl’s new Claregalway store is located in the centre of the village. The store features state-of-the-art facilities including a spacious shop floor with wide aisles, self-service check outs, long tills, an off licence, and Lidl’s much loved in-store bakery offering fresh baked goods daily.

Continuing the retailer’s ambitious expansion plans, the brand-new store is Lidl’s 186^th store in Ireland and 229^th store within the island of Ireland. Earlier this year, Lidl Ireland confirmed a fresh €600 million investment into creating 35 new stores and a Regional Distribution Centre at Little Island in County Cork over the next five years.

As part of Lidl's ambitions to reduce operational emissions and as part of its overarching A Better Tomorrow sustainability strategy, Lidl has invested more than €12 million in solar panel installation to date and is currently the owner of the largest array of rooftop solar panels in the country.

Lidl Claregalway is the retailer’s 100th store to feature a solar PV system that will generate more than 20% of the building’s energy requirements. The store also incorporates a range of additional sustainability features including LED lighting with Dali control, high performance building fabric, heat recovery and electric vehicle charger spaces for customers. These sustainability features help achieve a BER A1 certification and feed into their ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification.

Galway county LGFA players Nicola Ward, Kate Slevin and Kate Geraghty were on hand on the morning to officially open the store and welcome shoppers to enjoy a premier shopping experience.

To mark the opening, the store team at Lidl Claregalway donated €1,000 in Lidl vouchers to Anam Croí and Claregalway National School S.N. Bhaile Chláir Na Gaillimhe on the morning of the store opening. The first ten shoppers to enter the brand-new store were first to avail of opening day discounts but also received a complementary Lidl gift voucher to put towards their in-store shop.

Commenting at the Claregalway store opening, Tara O’Connor, Lidl Ireland Regional Managing Director said:

“On behalf of Lidl Ireland I am delighted to open our new Claregalway store. This year Lidl celebrates its 25th Anniversary in Ireland and it’s a great way to begin our celebrations in Galway. We have been with the Galway community since the beginning of our Lidl journey here in Ireland back in 2000, and it’s great to see the ongoing support the Galway community has offered us along the way. Lidl Claregalway has been highly anticipated in the area and we’re delighted to finally welcome customers to the brand new, state-of-the-art store.

Lidl is rooted in communities throughout Ireland, and we pride ourselves on operating in a way that is sustainable with the least impact possible on the environment. As part of this commitment, Lidl Claregalway marks a milestone in our sustainable journey as it is our 100^th store to feature solar panels which generate more than 20% of the store’s energy and reduces our impact on the local environment.”

At the opening, Local Claregalway Ladies Gaelic Football player Kate Slevin said:

“Through its longstanding partnership with LGFA, Lidl has been hugely supportive of its communities and it’s great to see them further investing in the Galway area by bringing a state-of-the-art store to Claregalway, creating employment for local people. It was great to be a part of the store opening this morning and to see all the work that goes in to opening a store, as well as meeting the local community and enjoy the store opening.”

Lidl opened its first Galway store in Headford Road in 2000, and currently employs more than 200 people across 11 stores in Clifden, Moycullen, Knocknacarra, Headford Road, Wellpark Road, Doughiska, Oranmore, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Gort and now Claregalway.

Last year, Lidl procured over €36 million worth of goods and services from 39 suppliers and business partners across Galway. Lidl’s key Galway suppliers include Glenamaddy-based Westbake who supply Lidl with much of the retailer’s confectionary range to stores in Ireland since 2019, as well as exporting their much-loved products to appear on Lidl’s shelves in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Lidl Ireland was recently named a ‘Top Employer’ by the Top Employers Institute for the fifth year running. The retailer was also named Most Reputable Food Retailer and Most Value for Money Organisation in the 2025 RepTrak Ireland study, and was named Most Sustainable Retailer in Ireland, ranking #3 in the RepTrak® Sustainability Index for 2024.

Lidl’s Claregalway store is now open daily: Monday – Saturday 8:00am – 10:00pm, and Sunday 9:00am – 9:00pm.

Lidl Ireland currently employs more than 6,000 employees in its 186 stores, Head Office in Tallaght and three distribution centres and regional offices based in Charleville, Mullingar, and Newbridge.

For further information, the latest instore offers and career opportunities please visit www.lidl.ie