OUR
STORY
McCloskey’s is built on a family passion that dates back to 1940. Through each generation that followed we have become an integral part of the north-east community, thanks to our delicious products and strong ethos.
In the beginning
In 1940, when Paddy McCloskey Sr - in partnership with his brother, Frank, and Joe Shiels - purchased Lyons Bakery in Trinity Street Drogheda, he could not have envisaged that they were laying the foundations for a remarkable legacy.
Over the next 80 years, McCloskey’s bread would be welcomed into countless homes around Drogheda and beyond. Thousands have frequented our shops and bakery cafés, our product range has flourished and we are welcoming the fourth generation of McCloskey into the business.
106 West Street
After buying out his brother and Joe Shiels, Paddy and his wife, Vera, opened their first bread shop and tea rooms in the mid-1940s. The premises in 106 West Street introduced them to the Drogheda community and today that presence is stronger than ever, thanks to The Moorland Café and McCloskey’s Shop, Trinity Street.
The Moorland Cafe
Already an established home bakery and tea rooms, the Moorland Café was purchased by Paddy McCloskey Jr in 1983. Paddy Jr – who had joined the family business in the late 1950s – completely renovated the café into the 120 seat coffee shop we see today.
Trinity Street
The smell of freshly baked goods in McCloskey’s Shop on Trinity Street is also steeped in history, with the shop located at the front of the original bakery. It has been a staple location for the local community and the ideal tasting ground for all the produce we have introduced over the last 70 years.
Today
Today the business is run by Patrick McCloskey, grandson of Paddy Sr, who has been involved in the company since 1985. In 2007, Patrick relocated the bakery to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Ballymakenny, Drogheda. As a Global Food Safety Grade A BRC standard site, it has enabled McCloskey’s to further expand its product range and reach.
Over the years, we have remained absolutely passionate about our produce, constantly searching for new trends and working to develop new products that capture the imagination. While bagels and Lithuanian breads may not have been to the forefront of Patrick McCloskey Sr’s mind in 1940, they are just two examples of the wide range of products that McCloskey’s currently offer; and although they may be a more recent creation, they are sprinkled with the same tradition.
Our dedication to our craft can be tasted on a daily basis, with our products available in our own stores and in a vast range of shops and supermarkets throughout the north-east of Ireland. Visit us in our bakery cafés or browse our online store to see our selection of celebration cakes.
