This big blocky brute of a shopping centre dominates central Dun Laoghaire. In many ways, it feels…read morelike it was here first and everywhere else was just built around it, hanging off the fringes. Like a shanty town on the edge of some medieval castle. Still, it's a good shopping centre. One of the few shopping centers, in fact, that doesn't impose wrist slittingly mundane easy listening on you. This is something which makes the place tolerable, pleasant even, by comparison. Further allusions towards the civilised world include the welcome addition of a public house and, most important feature of any shopping centre, multiple exits.

I think it was mahatma Gandhi who said "you can't polish a turd", though I might be misquoting…read morehim... Anyway, this was disproven on the show Mythbusters recently (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ9fy1qSFI) ... But speaking of polishing undesirable things, the Dunlaoghaire shopping centre; paint it as often as you wish, lower the ceilings, add some nice lighting...and it is still it is horrible to its very core... plus they charge you for parking No, not a fan.

First time buying anything in this shop but I had a Grandson in tow and I wanted some quick…read moreshopping for the beach - small child near water having fun - you know the story and a change of clothes may come in handy. In the childrens' section some of the clothes were well laid out but finding some shorts for a nipper was impossible...lots of girly stuff but I could not find shorts for the right age anywhere. I did ask a member of staff and was sort of pointed in the right direction but still could not find any. Anyway found a polo shirt (red), sun glasses (red) and a baseball cap (red) all at a reasonable price. Although I did try and persuade nipper to have a cowboy hat instead but as it had a bit of pink around the brim it was cast aside in disgust despite my pointing out we could change the pink to something which would be more 'tough guy'. Slightly thinking about getting cowboy hat removing the ribbon and putting other more guy stuff on it.

Cheap but surprisingly not somber, nor is the quality of goods lacking in what is, I am happy to…read moreannounce, a very steadfast store. I admit to initially being wary of the cheap prices and potential copy-cat (i.e. poor, cheap replications of finer clothes from more renowned stores) approach resulting in clothes of a dodgy quality but Penneys avoids this stereotype admirably. Penneys stock is very resourceful, it was the perfect store when I required the appropriate kit for a Rubix Cube Party recently. The idea of the party was that everyone had to adorn clothes that feature each colour seen on a rubix cube. I was very relieved and happy to find all of the colours I required under one roof, each garment a different style to the next. So not only did I manage to get the diverse array of colours together but managed to pick up a miscellaneous range of styles of garments too, those being an orange hoodie, a red polo t-shirt, green leggings, yellow slip-on ballet shoes, blue ribbons and white-rimmed sunglasses - to underline the wide ranging stockpile. Of course, Penneys being Penneys, the total for all of this as well as a few pairs of good quality €2 socks was incredible value for money and from this visit I was massively encouraged to revisit very soon after.

Nothing wrong with the shopping centre itself however the manager of the shipping centre is a…read moredisgrace!! I overheard her giving out to a mother because they child was crying when getting his hair cut, in a KID FRIENDLY hairdressers! This behaviour is absolutely apwaling and despicable! A parent should be entitled to get their child's hair cut. It is a stressful time as it is for both parents and children, the last thing they need is a grumpy staff member to add to it. The manager of the shopping centre should feel ashamed and be held accountable for making customers feel this way. The staff member in Kiddies Kutz was brilliant so this is no reflection on her but the manager should be ashamed of herself! Wouldn't return.

Ah the great Irish tradition of buildings that do pretty much the exact same thing sitting directly…read moreacross the road from one another. It started with churches, then the nineties hit and we could afford something other than guilt-so they put two shopping centers either side of the Blackrock 'bypass'. A triumph of public planning. The only real difference between the Frascati and Blackrock shopping centers is that one has Superquinn and the other has Marks and Sparx. Also, Frascati has a MacDonalds. Whooo!

Blackrock shopping centre is one of those places that makes you wonder what kind of mad psychotic…read moredesigned this country. It's got an open roof, this is the wettest place in Europe. Que the most overworked maintenance staff in Dublin. Has a waterfall inside though, and as a kid i used to love the shopping trolley friendly escalators.

As it goes, this shopping centre doesn't quite fit the bill and lacks for me! Upside is the…read moreSupervalu (formerly Superquinn) huge grocery store so always rely on it! It also is open air so got a great feel to it on a good day however as Irish weather goes... Hmmmm... The benefit is lost! It's a centre I go to for a specific purpose, not the browsing sort of centre! Would love to rate these types of centres more to drive ppl to shop locally but struggle when variety of shops just ain't there ;-(

Argos are great for picking up the odd item or more if needed but who in their right mind put the…read morestore in Dun Laoghaire where there is no immediate parking? Today I picked up an item and was warned that it was a little heavy and all they suggested was that I go back to Tesco, get a trolley and use it to pick up my item. Needless to say I struggled to the car with my box - thank goodness I am stronger than I thought and very 'pig' headed. Another location in Dun Laoghaire would be better.

I find Argos in general pretty handy and the shop in Dun Laoghaire is no exeption. It's just very…read moreeasy shopping and affordable. Yes, it mighn't be the highest quality but the hoover I bought there eight years ago is still going strong and everything else was fine too. These days I usually check their website for what I need, reserve it and just pick it up. What I needed this time wasn't in store but was available the very next morning so that's simply great, I think.

Fancy-schmancy cosmetics counters on the first floor, with all the big brands represented. When I…read morevisited, some were manned by eager looking ladies, while others were bereft of sales staff. Score! I headed to the empty ones for some quick tester sampling, before going upstairs to check out the clothes. Brands include Lee, Miss Selfridge, Firetrap and be sure to drop into Topshop, where one of the sales guys looks just like an Irish Russell Brand.

I was here trying many many evening dresses and I found the staff to be nothing but extremely…read morehelpful. One was very good at taking photos of me, positioning me this way and that, to get the perfect photo of me in their wares. Walking around the womens clothing department, there appears to be something for every taste, every age group. A bit on the pricey side, but everything I tried on was good stock and good quality. Recommended.

Terrible customer service!…read more My mother purchased a Samsung fridge/freezer from Power City. Size is far too big for her kitchen. Although no seals have been opened or removed from the fridge, and she has the sales receipt, Power City are refusing to offer a refund/exchange as the unit has been removed from the box. Punch line....Power City took the box back with them after delivering the unit! Have been emailing back and forth the customer service desk, with absolutely no real customer service provided. Have even attempted to contact Samsung as the manufacturers to see if they could provide us an empty box....to which Power City replied our 'contact is with Power City and not Samsung'. In addition, Power City have not offered to check with their own suppliers for a box, or to check their own warehouse for said box seeing as their couriers took back the box!! Although I have very clearly explained the situation to Power City and that my mother is not in a financial position to be out of pocket €1929.95 with a fridge that is basically the size of her entire kitchen...Power City's response has consistently been a one liner email saying 'sorry we can't refund' Absolutely disgraceful behaviour from a reputable company...

This retail park is a little off the beaten track by itself so it's not such an easy location to…read moreget to unless you have a car. There are always crowds here using the retail park but for me it lacks variety, there is a currys, next homeware, 53 Degrees North, Halfords, Smyths, TK Maxx, Harvey Normans, Petshop, Heatons and a few others, I would describe it more as a designation when you're looking for something particular as opposed to a browse where you could to be inspired :-) They have extended it further with a mc donalds and kfc drive thru and a power city has opened up recently so it's clearly bringing business in for me highlight is a crepes and coffee stall that can be found at Halfords area.

Dunnes is the bomb…read more Huge free carpark out front, so your guaranteed a spot is Defo a huge up from me. Hate spending half your time driving up and down carparks, hoping somebody will leave soon. Waste of time and energy. I love Dunnes cause it's hugeeee. U can have a potter in homeware, gather all your pharmaceutical needs, head to the offo for some alcohol, pop in for a hair cut or get Your dry cleaning done. All before you head into the supermarket section. The supermarket section is fab tho. Lots of fresh fruits and veg, huge bread section, quality butcher section. Basically all u need is in dunnes. I have never really gone to dunnes with a list and not come out with all i intended to. My go to supermarket, and shud be everyone's :)

In fairness its a big Dunnes, in fairness…read more Probably the biggest and best stocked Dunnes Grocery I've been to. Clothes and homeware is pretty massive also. The carpark is a bit cramped. Pedestians walk out where they shouldn't. Drivers keep driving when they shouldn't. The usual supermarket carpark madness so. A-OK

Had to buy a gift for my mother and as I am a man I am terrible at buying women's clothing but the…read morestaff were extremely friendly and helpful and I got the perfect gift. Would recommend everyone to pop in for a look.

From the owner: Choice Boutique Sandycove is situated on the main street of the small, idyllic village of…read moreSandycove, Dublin. We are here in business for 27 years having been the first Choice Boutique opened by the O'Rourkes in 1986. We tailor to women in their thirties and upwards. We stock several brand names such as Lauren Vidal, Masai, Steilmann, Peruzzi, Rene Derhy, Bellenisa, Myrine&Me, Salsa.