Limerick village's prime retail space with a Hollywood past hits the market

A LANDMARK retail outlet in Adare, best known for housing the boutique where Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones shopped, has hit the market.

A “For Sale” sign has gone up outside the building, long associated with the high-end Isobel boutique on Adare’s Main Street in County Limerick. 

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The boutique, owned by prominent businesswoman Kay Mulcaire, has welcomed numerous celebrities over the years, including Ms Zeta-Jones. The building is now for sale. Wheeler Auctioneers are the selling agents. 

Promotional material on Daft.ie describes the building as a “prime retail outlet ideally located in the heart of Adare village”. 

“This property is in excellent condition throughout and is refurbished and fitted out to highest standards.

“Adare is a vibrant commercial hub attracting a consistent flow of international and domestic visitors and home to a wide variety of hotels, boutiques, artisan shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants,” it reads.

Accompanying photos of the stylish interior shows it devoid of garments.

Catherine Zeta-Jones who starred in Zorro, and features in the current Netflix hit show, Wednesday, visited Isobel boutique during the 2010 JP McManus Charity Pro-Am in Adare Manor.  

At the time, Ms Mulcaire said that the actress came in on her own. 

“We just left her alone and after a while I asked her if she wanted any assistance. She told me she really liked the dress I was wearing, which was a yellow and green Missoni, so she bought that and some other Missoni dresses,” said Ms Mulcaire, who added that Ms Zeta-Jones was in the shop for an hour, bought other pieces and was “so pleasant”.

Ms Mulcaire also welcomed to the shop many wives and girlfriends of the world’s best golfers who played in the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am.

At the time Mr McManus gave pre-paid credit cards with a total value of €600,000 to players’ other halves to spend in businesses in Adare with 20% of all purchases going to charity.

There have been no announcements on the social media accounts of Isobel boutique about the building being for sale. Efforts by the Leader to get a statement from Ms Mulcaire have proven unsuccessful. The Isobel website is active and items can be put into a virtual cart. The landline phone number listed rings out.

Isobel has carried a range of luxury brands such as DVF, Michael Kors, Marc Cain and Moschino. It has been a go-to location for women from County Limerick and further afield dressing for a big occasion.

Ms Mulcaire started out in the fashion industry with her first boutique in Rathkeale. Thirty years in business was celebrated with a 30% offer in May, according to a post on the Isobel Instagram page. 

The entrepreneur worked seven days a week to grow her business in the subsequent decades. She also hosted numerous fashion shows for charity, including an annual Pretty in Pink event for breast cancer.

Isobel was targeted by criminals twice - first in 2016 and again in 2019. An Eastern European crime gang carried out a ram-raid on the store which resulted in a €240,000 loss due to damage caused to the store, stolen stock and lost revenue.

“It was awful – it almost put me out of business,” said Ms Mulcaire in an interview in 2022.

The advert publicising the sale of the building in Adare says that the village is one of Ireland's “premier destination tourist locations” and is now renowned for the world-famous Adare Manor which will host the 2027 Ryder Cup.

“The property comprises a single storey commercial unit which has traditionally operated as a retail outlet. The property is laid out internally as large open plan space which has been tastefully fitted out comprising shop floor, fitting rooms, kitchen, bathroom and storeroom.” 

The promotional information concludes by saying the store is in “turnkey condition throughout” and “ideal for high-end retail, showroom or variety of other uses”. The price is on application.