Dynasty: Scandals, Triumph, Turmoil and Succession at the heart of Dunnes Stores

by Matt Cooper

SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025

The real story behind Dunnes Stores, the most quintessentially Irish shop of all, and the family drama behind it

This is the story of the extraordinary family behind one of Ireland's most famous businesses, Dunnes Stores, over three generations and covering nearly 80 years of retailing but going back as far as the 19th century.
With drama worthy of the popular TV drama Succession, a real-life Irish family drama shows the children of a dominant founder argue as to who should run the supermarket empire after his death and take the money from it, and how they dealt or not, with addictions and ill health, including alcoholism.

This is the story of excess, success and failure.

Genres: Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published October 16, 2025

Reviews

[Gavin Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child growing up in the late 70’s & early 80’s Dunne’s Stores only meant one thing to me but it was probably one of the highlights of every year - The annual visit to Santa Claus at Cornelscourt. I was reminded of this many times when reading this excellent researched chronology of The Dunne’s Empire. There was a mystique to those visits to Cornelscourt similar in many ways to the secrecy and guile of how the Dunne family have operated and thrived in one of the most cut throat industry sectors there is, constantly evolving, seeing off competitors, embracing Irish talent in design and artisan foods, employing thousands and maintaining the vibrant and constant ethos of the founders of the Company and their determination to maintain family ownership of the business. In many ways this family mirrored the tragedies that beset a very famous ‘Kennedy’ family, with sickness, addiction, relationship assassination, public relations disasters and one family member very much having his own ‘Chappaquiddick’ moment but this time in Florida. There is still a privacy and mystery to the business and the family but Matt Cooper has given us an excellent insight into one of Ireland’s most successful businesses spearheaded and negotiated though many travails and reinventions by the very talented Margaret Heffernan. Cornelscourt is still there - 1000 times better than what I remembered from my youth but the memories are still treasured and for some reason I always feel a giddy excitement walking in the doors !

[Rita Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read, narrated by Matt Cooper himself.

I'm aghast at how well he captures all the nuances of this family business. He name checks all the major players in the core business and charts all the scandals and controversies with superb knowledge and astute understanding.

He clearly sets out all the causes for the stranglehold the trust placed on the siblings after the chairman died, and exposes all the warts, never shying away from the inconsistencies, yet manages to uphold their individual strengths.

I personally knew each of these people, and admired each in different ways and worried that Cooper was going to go for the cheap and easy narrative, but his version of events and personalities tracks exactly with what I always felt.

An outstanding piece of narrative non fiction that should ensure that history will look kindly on each and every one of them.

[Hugh HACKETT · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longstanding business editor Cooper sits at the fulcrum of Irish commercial life and is best placed to write the book on the Dunne family.

There is fantastic detail on their original rise to power, the always evolving retail formula and particularly the reign of Margaret Heffernan who is only second to Michael O’Leary as Ireland’s preeminent owner operator.

The book sags under the weight of corruption, payments to politicians and murky waters of pre Celtic Tiger Ireland, but the common theme throughout is Dunnes growing and changing alongside the Irish state. A must read for anyone with an interest in retail or Irish business.

[Bernie O Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written . The success of the Dunnes family is impressive, but , as Cooper clearly points out , it came at the expense of their workers and suppliers. The level of corruption and greed in Irish society is also laid bare . How is Michael Lowry still in a position of power- No 1 in North Tipperary . I had forgotten just how much shocking revelations there were in the various tribunals. Compelling stuff !

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magnificent book focusing on the Dunnes family and how they fell into scandal. Turns out that they’re the Irish version of the Kennedys, except none of them were murdered.

There were some areas I wanted explored though. The first Anne was instance is mentioned to have been institutionalised for unclear reasons and then never really mentioned again - I feel like there’s some angle over the family’s treatment of disabled people, but alas.

[Jennifer Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expertly told and sharply observed, turning the story of Dunnes Stores into something much bigger than a business biography. It captures a very particular moment in Irish social and economic life, showing how power, ambition and family dynamics shaped not just a company but a culture many of us grew up with.

Meticulously researched.

Fascinating, revealing and hard to put down.

[Aaron McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well put together tale from archives and personal recollections when Cooper was a younger journalist getting up close and personal with some of the players. Tells the story of Dunnes the business and the family quite well.

[Fiona O'Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3 star- I listened on BorrowBox-read by the author.

I’d forgotten all the shenanigans the Dunne’s family got involved in - entertaining!

[Adam Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read - love dunnes stores
Also makes you realise Ireland is more like America with its mega rich families operating in their own little world with other business families

[Aidan Kernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, What a great book from 1946 in Patrick Street in Cork to the present day. Life for the Dunne dynasty has been a rollercoaster and their still on top of their game, big business.