Urney Chocolates

Urney Chocolates, or simply Urney (Irish: An Urnaí), is a confectionery business founded by the Gallagher family now based in County Kildare, Ireland. The brand is presently operated by L.C. Confectionery Ltd.

Urney Chocolates
TypePublic
IndustryConfectionery
Founded1919
SuccessorL.C. Confectionery Ltd.
HeadquartersUrney, County Tyrone and Tallaght, Dublin (presently County Kildare)
Key people
Harry Gallagher
Redmond Gallagher

History

Urney Chocolates was established in 1919 by Harry Gallagher and his wife Eileen at their home, Urney House, in the parish of Urney, County Tyrone. Harry Gallagher was Crown Solicitor for County Donegal. Sweet-making was one of a number of local industries started by Eileen Gallagher based in the back garden of their house in an effort to stem the tide of emigration from the area.[1]

Urney Chocolates was the only chocolate manufacturer based in Ireland in the 1920s. Sourcing most of their supplies from Ireland, and stressed this fact in their advertisements and as a result were most popular in what would become the Republic of Ireland and made little impact in Northern Ireland. A consignment of Urney chocolates was returned to the factory marked "We want no pope here" as part of the Protestant boycott of Catholic goods.[2]

The original factory burned down in 1924 and they moved production to Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin. By the 1960s Urney Chocolates and its subsidiaries were employing almost 1,000 workers. At that time it was considered one of the largest chocolate factories in Europe.[3]

The New York-based company, W & R Grace bought Urney's out in 1963 and sold it on as a going concern to Unilever in 1970. Unilever soon changed the name to HB Chocolates. They ceased production in 1980. The former factory became a DIY store.

Branded products

References
  1. "Urney Chocolates". Dublin. Irish Independent. 16 June 1965.
  2. Clavin, Terry (2009). "Gallagher, Redmond". In McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. Nolan, Karen (2010). Sweet Memories - The Story of Urney Chocolates. Dublin: Blue Rook Press.
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