Our History

Our History: "Nutgrove Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham was unveiled to an excited Irish public in October 1984.
It was built in what was then still a very rural part of Dublin. In fact the site for the shopping centre was located on part of the old Lamb's Jam orchards.

The opening of the centre over 25 years ago transformed the shopping experience in Ireland. Suddenly shoppers from across the city and suburbs were able to enjoy Ireland’s first drive through restaurant when McDonald’s opened their branch there.
The American style experience of driving up to the window, ordering your food and driving away was a novelty that many Dublin people remember fondly to this day.

There were other firsts when Nutgrove opened its doors. Another, almost experimental move for the day, was when the country’s first social welfare services office was located in a shopping mall environment for the first time.

And from that day on it has proved a popular success, setting standards for the inclusion of other such offices in other shopping centres. For Nutgrove the social welfare office now provides a vital support service to the local community.

Another key service is the motor taxation office which provides a convenient location for conducting all those taxation business, negating the necessity of travelling into the city centre, looking for parking and getting caught in traffic jams. In fact, some customers tax their cars six monthly to have an excuse to shop in Nutgrove.

Alongside these essential services there is also a filling station, Rathfarnham and District Credit Union, the Post Office and an Axa Insurance office."