Our Story
Getting on for seventy years on the same street, from a circular saw and a small yard to the hardware shop, sawmill and builders providers you will find today.
How it started
From a Bakery to a Sawmill
Dan Galvin came to Sneem from Bracaragh in Caherdaniel and, in 1957, bought the premises here on Bridge Street from a Mrs Harty, who had run a bakery in it before him.
He set about building up a small yard behind the shop, and before long he put in a circular saw. He used it to cut round logs into timber of every size for people around the area.
As the years went on, the shop grew to complement the sawmill, becoming a hardware shop and builders providers as well. Dan looked after the timber and building materials, while his wife Kathleen ran the hardware shop and kept the accounts, all the while raising their six children.
Their children, Noreen, Mary, Michael, Donal and Brendan among them, all lent a hand in the shop down through the years. In the mid-1990s Brendan, with help from Donal, took over the running of the business and set about developing the yard at Inchinaleega West.
Dan Galvin passed away in May 2007. Brendan owns the business today, with Donal and a team of five in all. The focus now is mainly on the building and farming trades, and the sawmill roots still show. We make our own timber garden furniture, gates, fencing, railings and other garden products, in a style you will not find anywhere else.
Timber, building supplies and a proper hardware shop, on the same Bridge Street since 1957.
Trading on Bridge Street, Sneem
- Bought from Mrs Harty's old bakery
- Where the sawmill began
- Grew into hardware and builders providers
- Dan and Kathleen, and their six children
- Brendan and Donal since the 1990s
The milestones
Down Through the Years
- 1957
Dan Galvin opens the shop
Dan buys the Bridge Street premises from Mrs Harty, who had run a bakery there before him.
- Late 1950s
The sawmill begins
He builds a yard out the back and puts in a circular saw, cutting logs into timber for people around the area.
- The years after
A hardware shop grows
The business becomes a hardware shop and builders providers. Dan runs the timber and materials, Kathleen the shop and the accounts.
- Mid-1990s
The next generation
Brendan takes over the running of the business, with Donal, and develops the yard at Inchinaleega West.
- 2007
Brendan becomes owner
Dan Galvin passes away in May. Brendan carries the business on for the family.
- Today
Still going strong
A team of five serving the building and farming trades, still making timber garden furniture, gates, fencing and railings in the yard.
Call In and Say Hello
Local know-how built up by the Galvin family since 1957, still on Bridge Street. We are always happy to help.