End of an era for popular Kilkenny family butcher

A new chapter looms for a popular Kilkenny business family as expert butcher Gerry O’Brien is gearing up for retirement.

Gerry operates O’Brien Butchers at the Market Yard in Kilkenny City, which is due to close its doors on Friday.

Despite this, Gerry’s son James is keen to continue the family business, and he will continue to operate the other O’Brien Butchers unit in Loughboy.

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“We regret to inform you we are closing Market Yard on Friday, September 26, 2025," a statement in the shop window reads.

“We are retiring after 45 years in business. We wish to thank all our valued customers for their support. - Gerry and Mary O’Brien.”

The O’Brien family have been in the butchery business for decades.

Back in 1980, Gerry O’Brien opened his first butcher shop in Loughboy Shopping Centre.

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A farmer by trade, Gerry, who had on excellent work ethic, worked hard to establish the business and hired his first member of staff, Seamus Tynan.

Five years later, Gerry bought the land in Bonnetsrath where, with the help of his brother Sean, began to rear sheep and cattle.

With a passionate vision of ‘farm to fork’, he went on to build the abattoir and started to cure bacon and ham, and slicing low-salt rashers.

Later that same year, Gerry began making the award-winning Bonnetsrath black and white pudding and sausages.

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In 1987, with a well-established business renowned for high quality meat, Gerry opened a second shop in the Market Yard.

Gerry’s son James joined the business full time in 1996. 

In 2016, he took the reigns from Gerry and took over the abattoir in Bonnetsrath and butchers in Loughboy.

If you are impacted by the closure in the Market Yard, the team at O’Brien Butchers in Loughboy will be more than happy to fill the gap.

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