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Dynasty: Scandals, Triumph, Turmoil and Succession at the heart of Dunnes Stores SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025
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.
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.
- GenresNonfictionAudiobook
457 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 23, 2026
A different read for me but thoroughly enjoyed it.
As a fellow dunnes shopper, it was interesting to find out more about the family behind the store.
As a fellow dunnes shopper, it was interesting to find out more about the family behind the store.
March 31, 2026
Matt Cooper’s Dynasty is an impressively researched and deeply detailed account that spans decades, tracing the Dunnes Stores story from the 1940s right up to 2025. I listened to the audiobook, which added an extra layer of richness. Hearing it read by Cooper himself, a familiar voice as a respected Irish radio presenter and journalist, brought clarity and authority to the narrative.
The book is exceptionally well researched and written, with a structure that isn’t strictly linear. Instead, Cooper moves fluidly through time, often foreshadowing events or circling back to earlier moments to provide context and insight. This approach works well, adding depth and helping connect personal stories to wider national developments.
What stood out most for me was how effectively the book reflects the evolution of Ireland itself- its economy, political landscape, and particularly the shifting role and perception of women in business over time. The level of detail is remarkable, and I found myself learning a great deal, especially about family dynamics and behind-the-scenes stories.
That said, the depth occasionally felt overwhelming. Some sections, particularly those covering tribunals and court cases, go into such granular detail that they slow the pace and could have been trimmed without losing impact. The book’s length is, at times, its biggest drawback.
Because it brings the story right up to the present day, it also feels very immediate. One can’t help but wonder how those portrayed, especially family members, might feel about their depiction, which adds a little tension to the reading experience.
Overall, Dynasty is a compelling, insightful, and thoroughly researched work. While slightly overlong in parts, it remains a fascinating and worthwhile read (or listen), especially for anyone interested in modern Irish history, business, and power.
The book is exceptionally well researched and written, with a structure that isn’t strictly linear. Instead, Cooper moves fluidly through time, often foreshadowing events or circling back to earlier moments to provide context and insight. This approach works well, adding depth and helping connect personal stories to wider national developments.
What stood out most for me was how effectively the book reflects the evolution of Ireland itself- its economy, political landscape, and particularly the shifting role and perception of women in business over time. The level of detail is remarkable, and I found myself learning a great deal, especially about family dynamics and behind-the-scenes stories.
That said, the depth occasionally felt overwhelming. Some sections, particularly those covering tribunals and court cases, go into such granular detail that they slow the pace and could have been trimmed without losing impact. The book’s length is, at times, its biggest drawback.
Because it brings the story right up to the present day, it also feels very immediate. One can’t help but wonder how those portrayed, especially family members, might feel about their depiction, which adds a little tension to the reading experience.
Overall, Dynasty is a compelling, insightful, and thoroughly researched work. While slightly overlong in parts, it remains a fascinating and worthwhile read (or listen), especially for anyone interested in modern Irish history, business, and power.
March 12, 2026
Enjoyable insight into the founding of Dunnes Stores. Gets a bit bogged down in the details of the internal family power struggle of the 90s/00s and Ben Jr's relationship with Lowry
February 27, 2026
3.75, this family has some mad stories that I hadn’t a clue about - it’s also a great overview of Irelands economy and how it built up over the years. Rating may have been negatively impacted by the fact I was reading a hardback instead of on kindle… my arms got tired.
December 13, 2025
Fascinating read
Fascinating read. Expertly researched by a top drawer writer, who mixes the personal side of one seriously dysfunctional family…with the incredible business acumen of the Dunne family.
They’ve had a huge impact on shaping modern Irish society.
Positively, through providing affordable food and clothes to the nation plus driving competitiveness to domestic industry. And negatively, by turbocharging political corruption and keeping a heel on their workers rights.
I’m glad I only had to work there part time during the 90’s! They were not nice to work for and I hope workers rights and conditions have improved since then.
Fascinating read. Expertly researched by a top drawer writer, who mixes the personal side of one seriously dysfunctional family…with the incredible business acumen of the Dunne family.
They’ve had a huge impact on shaping modern Irish society.
Positively, through providing affordable food and clothes to the nation plus driving competitiveness to domestic industry. And negatively, by turbocharging political corruption and keeping a heel on their workers rights.
I’m glad I only had to work there part time during the 90’s! They were not nice to work for and I hope workers rights and conditions have improved since then.
January 8, 2026
This was a really interesting read. I didn't know much about the Dunne family other than Ben Dunne Jr.'s drug habit, his kidnapping, and his gym empire. There is a lot more to this family than just Ben Dunne!
This is my first Matt Cooper book, too. He writes very well, keeping it light but engaging. While he speaks about the dark parts of the Dunne family history and dynamic, he never twists the knife, and I liked this. It didn't seem like an exploitative telling of the family history, but I did finish the book feeling a little unsatisfied, and I'm not entirely sure why.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I certainly would.
This is my first Matt Cooper book, too. He writes very well, keeping it light but engaging. While he speaks about the dark parts of the Dunne family history and dynamic, he never twists the knife, and I liked this. It didn't seem like an exploitative telling of the family history, but I did finish the book feeling a little unsatisfied, and I'm not entirely sure why.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I certainly would.
January 9, 2026
Very well wrote book about a fascinating family and business. Considering the Dunne family do so little in the public spotlight and didn't contribute directly to the book, Cooper did a brilliant job chronicling the lifes and times of the Dunne family and Dunnes Stores empire
November 25, 2025
As the bank manager said to Charlie, "It's a great little nation."
December 28, 2025
Enjoyable read, nice mixture of business and colourful anecdotes concerning the main characters involved. What a mad family.
January 21, 2026
Excellent book really well done
Very irish , business and society, politics
But a nice span over decades
Very irish , business and society, politics
But a nice span over decades
January 22, 2026
oh my god this is such a good book i love love love love so interesting always kept me going because like one second it’s tax law and the next it’s “oh the ira?” but ye would recommend
March 15, 2026
An easy to read page turner, however Matt’s prose & sentence structure could be improved!
April 10, 2026
A fantastic read and insight into one of Ireland's best known and loved companies.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews