The Square Shopping Centre

The Square Shopping Centre, also known as The Square Tallaght, is a major suburban retail and community facility in Tallaght, southwest Dublin, Ireland. It opened on 23 October 1990 and was, at launch, the largest shopping centre in Ireland. The centre was developed during a period when large retail complexes were being established in suburban locations around Dublin, alongside later projects such as Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Dundrum Town Centre. The centre occupies a strategically connected site near the Belgard Road, the R113 and the N81, approximately ten minutes from junction 11 of the M50 motorway. It is also served by the Tallaght terminus of Dublin's Luas Red Line and by numerous Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland routes. This transport position allows The Square to function as a regional destination rather than solely as a local convenience centre. The complex contains approximately 53,000 square metres of retail space across three levels. Reference material describes a tenant mix of up to 163 stores as of 2016, with Dunnes Stores, Penneys and Tesco among its principal anchor tenants. The centre's offer combines grocery shopping, department-store and fashion retail, household and general merchandise, food and beverage, and other everyday services. More than 2,500 parking spaces support access by car, including surface and multi-storey parking areas. The Square has also developed a civic and public-service role within Tallaght. Facilities associated with or adjacent to the site have included offices for the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the Health Service Executive's Eastern Region and FÁS. South Dublin County Council's headquarters and the Tallaght branch of South Dublin Libraries are adjacent, while the Civic Theatre and Tallaght University Hospital are located nearby. The centre therefore forms part of a broader town-centre cluster that includes public administration, culture, education, healthcare and transport infrastructure. The centre marked its 25th anniversary in October 2015. A substantial expansion and redevelopment was subsequently approved by An Bord Pleanála, with plans reported to add about 200,000 square feet of retail space. In October 2020, management company Sigma Retail Partners announced that the planned expansion had been postponed, attributing the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Square remains an active Irish shopping-centre brand whose importance is rooted in its scale, suburban accessibility, anchor stores and integration with Tallaght's wider civic infrastructure.

The Square Shopping Centre was developed in Tallaght during a major period of suburban growth around Dublin. It opened on 23 October 1990 and became the first of four large shopping complexes built in the suburban centres surrounding Dublin from the late 1980s onward. The opening was conducted by Taoiseach Charles Haughey and attracted approximately 45,000 people. Broadcaster Gay Byrne was among those associated with the opening celebrations and hosted his radio programme from the centre's Crow's Nest. Other reported attendees included Mary Harney, Pat Rabbitte, RTÉ Director-General Vincent Finn and Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes. At opening, The Square was the largest shopping centre in Ireland. Its arrival contributed to the transformation of Tallaght from a predominantly suburban residential area into a more substantial urban and civic centre. Several important institutions and facilities were established in the surrounding area in the years that followed, including the educational, sporting, cultural and healthcare facilities now associated with Tallaght. The nearby Civic Theatre, Tallaght University Hospital, National Basketball Arena and Technological University Dublin form part of this wider town-centre environment. The centre's physical format is based on three levels of retail space, supported by surface and multi-storey parking. Reference material gives the retail area as approximately 53,000 square metres and reports up to 163 stores in 2016. Dunnes Stores, Penneys and Tesco are identified as anchor tenants. The Square's role extends beyond conventional retail: offices and public-service facilities associated with the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social Protection, Health Service Executive Eastern Region and FÁS have operated at or near the site. South Dublin County Council's headquarters and the Tallaght branch of South Dublin Libraries are adjacent, reinforcing the centre's function as part of a broader civic district. Transport access has been central to the centre's regional role. The site is close to the M50 motorway and is positioned on routes including the Belgard Road, the R113 and the N81. The Luas Red Line serves the centre through its Tallaght terminus, while Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland provide routes connecting the site with Dublin city and a wide range of surrounding communities. The Square celebrated its 25th anniversary on 23 October 2015. It later obtained planning permission for a significant redevelopment and expansion, reportedly involving approximately 200,000 additional square feet of retail space. The project did not proceed on its original timetable. On 23 October 2020, Sigma Retail Partners announced that the expansion had been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The centre continues to operate as a large Irish suburban shopping destination, combining retail, transport access, parking and proximity to public, cultural and healthcare facilities.

• 2020

  Expansion postponed

  [1]The Square Tallaghten.wikipedia.org

  Management announced that the planned major expansion had been postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2015

  25th anniversary

  [1]The Square Tallaghten.wikipedia.org

  The centre marked 25 years of operation on 23 October 2015.

• 1990

  Opening of The Square Tallaght

  [1]The Square Tallaghten.wikipedia.org

  The Square opened on 23 October 1990 and was described at the time as Ireland's largest shopping centre.

A large, accessible suburban shopping and civic destination serving Tallaght and surrounding areas of southwest Dublin.

• Department store and grocery anchor

  Dunnes Stores

  Dunnes Stores is one of The Square's principal anchor tenants. Its department-store and grocery format provides clothing, household goods and food shopping, helping generate regular visits as well as supporting the centre's broader fashion and general-merchandise offer.

• Fashion retail anchor

  Penneys

  Penneys is identified as a major fashion anchor at The Square. The retailer contributes high-volume apparel, accessories and home-related merchandise to the centre's tenant mix and strengthens its appeal as a regional value-fashion destination.

• Grocery anchor

  Tesco

  Tesco is one of the centre's named anchor tenants. Its grocery and everyday-needs offer provides a frequent-visit component within The Square and complements the fashion, department-store, food and service businesses located across the complex.

• Shopping-centre offer · 1990

  The Square retail and services mix

  The wider centre combines fashion, groceries, household goods, beauty, food and beverage, general merchandise and everyday services. The offer is distributed across three retail levels and supported by more than 2,500 parking spaces and extensive public-transport connections.

• 2020

  Postponement of planned expansionStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the timing of the planned redevelopment and expansion.

  Action taken

  Sigma Retail Partners announced on 23 October 2020 that the expansion would be postponed.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not establish whether or when the full expansion was subsequently restarted.

  Source

• Approval of a major expansion and redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre pursued a substantial redevelopment intended to increase its retail capacity and modernise the destination.

  Action taken

  An Bord Pleanála granted permission for a project reported to include approximately 200,000 square feet of additional retail space.

  Aftermath

  The approved expansion was later postponed. No completion date is established in the supplied reference material.

  Source

1. 1The Square Tallaghten.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Square Shopping Centre official websitethesquare.ie