Margaret Heffernan
Margaret Heffernan is the eldest daughter of the Dunne family and has played a crucial role in transforming Dunnes Stores into a leading retail chain in Ireland. With over three decades of leadership, she has been instrumental in modernizing the brand and maintaining family ownership without dilution over the years. Heffernan's vision for the company has seen the introduction of mid-market brands and a revamp of stores, marking her as one of the most successful women in Irish business history.
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Recent news mentions
Margaret Heffernan is the eldest of six children born to Ben Dunne snr and his wife Nora Dunne, who has transformed Dunnes Stores into the retailer it is today.
Andrew Heffernan, husband to Dunnes Stores matriarch Margaret, has died – The Irish Times
Ireland· 2026-02-25
Current chief executive Margaret Heffernan is part of the family-run chain Dunnes Stores.
Christmas gift ideas for book lovers of every stripe – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-12-14
Margaret Heffernan took control of Dunnes Stores after Ben Dunne jnr's implosion and moved the brand upmarket.
Warts-and-all group portrait of the Dunne dynasty – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-14
Margaret Heffernan is mentioned as one of the giants of Irish business who worked beyond the age of 65.
We need more over-65 workers, and companies need to get better at employing them – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-06
Margaret Heffernan is the media-averse sister of Ben Dunne and has transformed Dunnes Stores.
‘It’s a great story about Ireland and how we’ve changed’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-01
