The Dungeon, a cornerstone of Killarney’s retail landscape, celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 50 years of business this week.

Born in 1974 in a tiny front room at the top of High Street—where Brian De Staic Jewellery now stands—the shop has been a cherished part of the community.

It all began when Terence Casey, a young law student, decided to try his hand at business. The shop, a modest affair, was filled with an eclectic mix of jewellery, knick-knacks, and second-hand books, including beloved Mills & Boon romances and westerns, which remain collectible to this day. To stock his shelves, Terence made regular trips to Hector Grey in Dublin, often personally transporting the goods back to Killarney.

Terence’s law studies soon pulled him away from the business. Enter Micheál O’Connor, a close friend, who took over operations fresh out of his Leaving Cert. Micheál’s sister, Geraldine, the shop’s current owner, also joined the fold, beginning a journey that would see The Dungeon evolve and thrive.

Memories of High Street

Geraldine fondly recalls those early days. “We used to sell these old comic postcards, which we displayed in the window,” Geraldine shares. “They caused a bit of an uproar among the more conservative-minded locals, because of their cheeky imagery and jokes. We had to take them off the windows eventually. It’s funny looking back, especially compared to what people can access online now!” 

A Move to Plunkett Street

By the late 1970s, it was clear that The Dungeon had outgrown its High Street space. The shop moved to a larger, more central location on Plunkett Street, where the Tatler Jack Bar recently expanded. With Killarney’s natural parklands drawing more visitors, The Dungeon diversified, selling camping gear and outdoor equipment. They were also the local Joke Shop, selling party novelties and mischievous prank items like noise-making snappers.

“School tours were a highlight,” Geraldine reminisces. “Busloads of kids would come in and buy up all our Joke Shop supplies, we used to have great craic around the shop back then.” 

Settling into College Street

In 1986, The Dungeon Shop took its biggest leap yet, purchasing Courtney’s Bar on College Street. After rebuilding the tired structure, The Dungeon found its niche in selling schoolbooks, especially second-hand ones, alongside an array of stationery and everyday essentials.

“The back-to-school season is always special,” Geraldine says. “Families would come in with their lists, kids excitedly picking out new pencil cases and supplies. We’ve seen generations of families come through our doors, and that’s such a lovely thing.”

Navigating New
Challenges

As with any long-standing business, The Dungeon has faced its share of challenges and has never shied away from the need to evolve with the ever-changing retail landscape.

“Things have changed a lot alright,” Geraldine acknowledges. “But The Dungeon has always adapted. The sale of our second-hand novels remains hugely popular, and we stock 1000’s of titles across many genres. It is great to see that with podcasts and Kindles and everything else, people still enjoy the touch and feel of a physical book. We offer a wide range of art and stationary supplies. And, of course, our penny sweets are as iconic as ever. We are always looking at new ways to improve our offering here and we hope that we will be around for many more years yet,” Geraldine says.

A Golden Anniversary Celebration

 “We’ve been so lucky to have the support of locals over the years. To thank our loyal customers, we are having a bit of a celebration in-store this weekend. We’ll have kids’ entertainment on Saturday 23 from 2pm-5pm and spot prizes on the day. We also have a 10% discount on books, stationery, and art supplies all weekend,” Geraldine said.