Limerick style queen plots return to Adare as new chapter opens

BUSINESSWOMAN and style queen Kay Mulcaire has opened a new boutique in Newcastle West.

And she has also revealed that she will also be returning to Adare village in the coming months.

For years, Isobel’s Boutique has been synonymous with Adare’s Main Street, the high-end retailer once welcoming Hollywood superstar Catherine Zeta-Jones.

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However, earlier this summer, the ‘for sale’ sign went up on the prominent building.

But speaking to Limerick Live this week, Kay says she hopes to return to Adare in the first week of October.

“We are buying back the building from the bank and re-opening in the same location,” said Kay, who is marking 30 years in business.

For now the attention is on her new boutique, also called Isobel’s, at Bridewell Row in Newcastle West, a town which has developed a growing reputation for women’s fashion in recent years.

It opened just three weeks ago, and Kay says she is really enjoying being in the town.

“I cannot get over the population here. There is a really big hinterland. Customers come in from all of west Limerick - from Foynes, Shanagolden, Castlemahon and Abbeyfeale. It’s a wonderful town,” she said.

Kay also praised the other business owners in the county town for making her feel so welcome, calling in to wish her well.

There’s a familiar face from Adare which has also opened beside Isobel’s Boutique.

The Poppy Cup has opened an outlet on Deel-side.

“It’s bringing in a younger generation with all their trendy matchas. It’s given me a new client base,” Kay smiled.

Asked what people can expect from the new store in Newcastle West, she said: “We have some exclusive brands which wouldn’t be here otherwise. We are doing a lot more casual stuff.”

Among the brands being stocked are the Spanish designer Lola Casademunt, the Irish luxury fashion line AndTate, as well as Marc Cain.

“We’ll be bringing more new brands here all the time,” Kay added.

Kay enjoyed a boost to her trade during both the 2010 and 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am tournaments at Adare Manor.

Fifteen years ago, Ms Zeta-Jones spent an hour in her boutique picking out clothes.

Then in 2022, she welcomed to her shop the many wives and girlfriends of the world’s top golfers.

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.

Twenty percent of the proceeds from all the purchases went to charity.

Kay began her career in the fashion industry with her first boutique in Rathkeale.

The entrepreneur worked seven days a week to grow her business in the subsequent decades.

She’s also hosted numerous fashion shows for charity, including an annual Pretty in Pink event to raise money for breast cancer research.