“It was January 1950 that Williams Hardware store was first opened my grandparents Mervyn and Joanna Williams.”
Paul Williams, the current owner and third generation of Williams Hardware in Kilkee explains the family connection and story of the store.
Mervyn was a gunner in the RAF during World War two on bomber planes, an extremely courageous and dangerous responsibility. Returning to Kilkee, he and his wife decided to open a Hardware store and soon gained a reputation for trail blazing by being the first to introduce fixed prices and labelling of all products!
Prior to this the custom was to haggle over the price of every purchase, a custom that took many years to eradicate, and some may argue it has never completely disappeared in the West!
In those days a tool was a serious purchase and expected to last a lifetime. There was far less choice and fewer brands. Brand loyalty was fierce, knives had to come from Sheffield and Shovels had to come from Derby. The grain in the handle of a shovel was scrutinised and they were rigorously leaned on to test for strength before the important choice was made.
On their retirement Pauls parents John and Elizabeth took over the store, expanding the business to include a Pharmacy next door as well as a craft and gift shop.
Through the building boom in the 1980’s the store expanded to include building supplies as the holiday homes around Kilkee were built and the range of products increased with the availability of imports from off shore. At this point they employed around 15 staff.
Meanwhile Paul was finding s own career path with no intension of returning to the family business. Inspired by the very eccentric Dr Brian Faloon his professor, Paul was studying Law and European Studies, and decided in 1994 to take off and visit Poland for a year, just to see what it was like.
Paul stayed in Poland until 2002, working for the Polish government meanwhile back in Kilkee his father had expanded the business in line with the Celtic tiger.
Returning home to Kilkee Paul with his Polish wife Magda, Paul took over the hardware store and adapted along with the market demands and changes required as a result of the building crash and covid.
Pauls specialist knowledge of DIY and the building trade is demonstrated mid interview when he gets a phone call and offers detailed advice and information on galvanised paint.
An active member of Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, The Board of Management of the Primary School, Loophead Together and the the Kilkee Twinning committee ( Kilkee is twinned with Plouhinec in costal Brittany) Paul is fully immersed in Kilkee life.
When he does have some spare time he and his wife love to travel, especially back to Poland and other European countries.
The Business has encountered many changes since his Grandparents family first opened its door at 9.30 in the morning on January 15th, 1950. Previously it had been a post office with a solicitor’s office upstairs.
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