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About Us

Duffys-exterior_edited.jpg

About Us

A treasure trove awaits you when you step into the magical world of Duffys Toyworld we will always implore you to visit the shop itself for the full experience. Our website gives you some idea of the excitement that awaits you and your children at our store until a time you can travel to meet us in person.
1938

Duffys Toyworld of Dunleer is located on the same corner as when John H. Duffy first established what was to become a “must visit” store back in May 1938. 

The man was ahead of his time and was widely regarded as a visionary in terms of business. He provided a wide range of products at a time when the horse and cart or bicycle was the transport means of the day. When Dunleer was electrified and televisions were invented, he proudly showed a TV programme in the corner window for all to see on a Thursday evening. The entertainment was the highlight of the week for a lot of people from the area and was much anticipated.

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2005

It was a natural progression that having finished college, his daughter Audrey joined the family business. Over the years the business evolved into what it is today and as of May 2005 are solely a toy retailer.

1966

In January 1966, John unexpectedly died and his youngest son, Tony, who was just 19 at the time, was cast into the role of running the business. At that time, the main focus of the business was furniture, carpets and household goods, later toys and nursery goods were added into the mix. 

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We source amazing toys from far and wide and focus on “passive toys”, toys which initiates play. There is no 'on' switch. Passive toys require the child to use them and therefore can spark the child's curiosity, ignite the child's imagination, teach children perseverance, problem solving and investigative skills, in other words, lessons for life. 

The esteemed and much loved radio and television presenter, the late Gay Byrne, once described our store on the national airwaves as “….an emporium of toys…”

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