Urney Chocolates
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Successor | L.C. Confectionery Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Urney, County Tyrone and Tallaght, Ireland |
Key people | Eileen and Harry Gallagher |
Urney Chocolates is a confectionery business now based in County Kildare, Ireland. The brand is now operated by L.C. Confectionery Ltd.
Urney Chocolates was established in 1919 by Eileen and Harry Gallagher at their home, Urney House, in the parish of Urney, County Tyrone. Harry Gallagher (born 1879) was Crown Solicitor for County Donegal. Sweet-making was one of a number of local industries started by Eileen Gallagher based in the back garden of their house in an effort to stem the tide of emigration from the area.[1]
The original factory burned down in 1924 and they moved production to Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin. By the 1960s Urney Chocolates and its subsidiaries were employing almost 1,000 workers. At that time it was considered one of the largest chocolate factories in Europe.[2]
The New York-based company, W & R Grace bought Urney's out in 1963 and sold it on as a going concern to Unilever in 1970. Unilever soon changed the name to HB Chocolates. They ceased production in 1980. The former factory became a DIY store.
Current branded products
- Urney Anytime Assortment (formerly advertised as "any time is Urney time")
- Urney Two and Two
- Hadji Bey's Turkish Delight