Supermarkets
Lidl & Aldi
German discount retailers
Located just off the Western Distributor Road, Knocknacarra boasts a Lidl and an Aldi right across from each other. This makes it handy for picking up different items in each. Their close proximity has even become a source of joking between the two.
Lidl are opening a new store in Galway. It’s next door to an Aldi. This sign is facing the Aldi store. Top trolling. pic.twitter.com/gsXnPCZtxb
— Danny McLaughlin (@Danny_McTurner) March 23, 2022
Obviously both shops focus on affordability, basing their reputation on a high-demand products to lower overhead costs. The no-frills approach means the shops aren't always sparkling clean. That said, the Lidl in particular is pretty high end. The Lidl car park has machines for charging for your electric vehicle, and there is also an Insomnia Coffee outlet on the ground-level while you wait.
Lidl and Aldi have identical opening hours. They are both open at 8am until 10pm six days a week, and 9-9 on Sunday.
Dunnes Stores
Posh, basically notions level.
Dunnes Stores is the anchor tenant of the Gateway Shopping Centre, certainly the largest retail hub in Knocknacarra. It has been open since September 2017.
Dunnes has a national presence and the quality of food quality etc varies from store to store. This is true even within Galway, where the Westside Dunnes isn't generally considered the best. The Knocknacarra branch is generally well-regarded, very much in the "Posh Dunnes" category! For example, it has its own separate Sheridans Cheese Counter and a dedicated health foods section.
Knocknacarra Dunnes also has a large garden and home goods section, but note purchases here do not count towards the ``5 off 25'' voucher scheme. There is also a good selection of clothes available, again not counting towards vouchers. In total the shop has a massive footprint of 75,000 square feet.
There is a full deli in the back, as well as an under-rated pizza counter that sells large pizzas by the slice. The store also has a good selection of wines and spirits, and a small selection of craft beers. The store is open from 8:30am (9am on Sundays) and stays open until 9pm (10pm on Thursdays and Fridays).
Tesco
Make sure you have a clubcard!
Poor old Tescos had a hard time getting off the ground in the area. Going back to the recession days, they were refused planning permission to build a hypermarket on the Western Distributor Road. They eventually opened a smaller store when they bought out Joyce's in 2022. The store is located at the bottom of the Clybaun Road. You can access the car park from either the Kingston Road or the Shangort Road.
Clocking in at 17,000 square feet, the store is just about big enough to warrant a Tesco "Superstore" designation. The broader shopping centre there includes a barber, a dentist, a pharmacy, and a coffee shop.
Tesco is one of the better options to late night shopping, staying open until 10pm six days a week. The hours are 9am-10pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 8pm on Sunday.
