Paddy’s Great Big Housewarming Party

Paddy with Niamh, Brianán and Darragh SAT11OCT25

t was hardly a big change to his daily routines when Paddy Holohan announced in July that he was taking over the ownership of our main street SuperValu from Anne Daly.

The lad had been manager there for 18 years, after all.

It was a natural move that even made de papers, given just how popular our boy is, and today, to celebrate the official changing of the guards, there was a great big housewarming party at the newly-crowned Holohan’s SuperValu.

We’re talking face painting! Free food! Giveaways! A cooking demo with the Flynnstones! Plus, loads of Paddy’s relatives, including his wife Brianán’s clan!

It was clearly an emotional day for Paddy and the gang, this Greystones shop having become a big, big part of their daily lives. Sure, you can even take shelter from our stormy bus service there.

And the atmosphere inside today reflected just how much a part of the community Paddy has become, with many familiar faces swinging by to congratulate the lad on his big day. And quite a few others swinging by for the freebies and competitions.

For their part, The Happy Pear guys put on a rollicking good floor show as they created a cake out of what appeared to be dead leaves and sawdust whilst also rolling out such much-loved early hits as The Handstand Challenge and What Have The Romaines Ever Done For Us?.

It’s testament to both the Dalys and to Paddy that SuperValu is somehow a supermarket that feels like a corner shop.

Part of that is the friendliness from the management down, of course, but there’s also the constant sponsorships and donations to local charities, sports clubs and community groups. And the fact that there’s local produce in every aisle, from Pigeon House’s At Home range and The Happy Pear’s own bread to Ms McSorley’s home-baked Greystones Momma vegan treats and Thierry’s Le Paysan pathés.

Because this SuperValu is family run, there’s no middle-management blocking the shelves here. You just have to talk nicely to Paddy.

Today’s big hooley ended with the cutting of the ribbon, Paddy and Brianán joined by their kids, Niamh and Darragh, as the crowd cheered them on. And then it was on to that cake…

Congrats, kids! Here’s to the next 18 years… Full gallery of pics here.

Once again, full gallery, in hi-res here. You can find out more about Holohan’s SuperValu here, check out their kitchens here, and follow on Instagram here or Facebook here.