ONE OF Dublin’s oldest family butchers has closed its doors after 80 years of trade.
Hogan’s Butchers on Wexford Street first opened its doors to the Irish public back in 1939.
Once famed as a thriving hub for Ireland’s agricultural industry, Wexford Street was previously home to no fewer than 13 butchers serving the Irish capital.
Dubliners would come from far and wide for the best steaks and pork chops Ireland had to offer, alongside so much more besides.
Hogan’s was the final one of those butchers to remain in operation.
A charming slice of old-school Dublin, it became known for its distinctive red neon sign which read simply “baby” and added to the vintage allure of the shop.
Famed for its organic fillet steaks, Hogan’s provided top quality meat at affordable prices as well as expertise and customer service that went beyond the average supermarket.
Now its owner, Christopher Hogan, has hung up his apron with Hogan’s Butchers closing its doors for the final time this past Saturday, January 4.
Part of a family dynasty of butchers, Christopher’s grandfather and uncles also worked in the trade.
Having started in the shop at the tender age of 16, Christopher leaves behind an unrivalled legacy as one of Dublin’s most enduring retailers.
A popular fixture in the local community the loss of this family-run butchers will be felt by many with long-lasting ties to the local area.
It comes amidst increased competition from supermarkets and their in-house butchers.
However, after 54 years of trading, the 70-year-old butcher is looking forward to his much-deserved retirement.
In place of Hogan’s will come a bar and restaurant catering to visiting tourists and Dublin revellers keen to eat and drink long into the night.
Here’s hoping a few glasses are raised in memory of this lost part of Dublin’s history.
You never know – Christopher might just be among them.
