Rathwood goes into examinership

Rathwood Home & Garden World, Tullow, Carlow

In a statement, the Carlow-based home and garden centre said it would continue to trade as normal during examinership process

Retail

Read More: examinership Garden Centre Rathwood

21 May 2026

Rathwood, the Carlow-based homes and garden centre, has gone into examinership, and will not be issuing any more refunds owed to customers who placed orders that were never delivered until the process is complete.

In a statement published on its website, the company, which employs around 100 people, said it “remains open and is continuing to trade as normal.”

“We want to reassure all our customers, suppliers and partners that we continue to trade as normal and operate fully in accordance with all applicable laws,” the statement said.

“At this time, we regret that we are not in a position to address any outstanding payments or refund requests relating to amounts owed up to today.”

An examinership is a legal process allowing insolvent companies to restructure under court protection for up to 100-150 days. It allows them to avoid liquidation while maintaining trading control.

As part of the process, an independent examiner is appointed who develops a “scheme of arrangement” to reorganise debts.

Rathwood has been operating from premises on the Wicklow-Carlow border for more than 30 years and grew into one of the biggest outdoor living retailers in the State, expanding in recent years with concessions in other retail outlets as well as a significant online presence.

However, Rathwood was the second-most complained about company – after Ryanair – to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (CCPC) helpline last year, the number of complaints rising to 565 in 2025 from just 24 in 2024.

On top of that, a Facebook group, Rathwood Refund Requesters, has over 650 members who have detailed their difficulties in securing refunds for purchases worth hundreds of euro over the past number of months.

Rathwood was established in 1994 in Rath, Tullow, County Carlow. In 1994 Patrick and Carmel Keogh transformed their 3,500 sq ft potato shed into a 10,000sq ft shopping emporium with 15 acres of land to show off furniture, gifts, gazebos, garden sheds, pots and plants.