Carey Tools: Ireland’s Trusted Tool Experts Since 1960

Finding a dependable tool supplier shouldn’t feel like a hunt. Yet somehow it always does. Prices jump around, stock disappears overnight, and customer service can vanish the minute you actually need help. For professionals on site or DIYers mid-project, the problem isn’t just finding a tool. It’s finding somewhere that still feels reliable.

That’s what makes the long timers stand out. Among the endless online retailers, a few names still carry weight, and Carey Tools is one of them.

An Irish company with more than six decades behind it, built on service knowledge and the kind of consistency that’s rare in the digital rush. The name has long been part of Irish homes, workshops, and job sites since 1960, long before the internet made shopping effortless and strangely impersonal

This is a look at what’s kept Carey Tools around and whether the trust they’ve earned over the years still holds up.

Who Is Carey Tools?

The story goes right back to Cork City, 1960. A family-run hardware store on the banks of the River Lee serving local trades and small businesses. Fast forward over the years, and Carey Tools now ranks among Ireland’s largest independent tool suppliers, stocking more than 27,000 products from 250-plus brands. The scale has grown since those early days, but the roots are still the same, still family owners, still operating from Cork, still anchored in that original sense of service.

There’s something to be said for a company that manages to modernise without losing its footing. Many retailers that went online became faceless in the process. Carey Tools didn’t. It still feels like a business run by people who understand what the job actually needs, the kind that knows the difference between a tool spec and a marketing line.

That longstanding mix of trust and expertise explains why the brand remains one of the most familiar names in Ireland’s trade and DIY circles.

What Makes Their Service Different?

The difference shows up in the small details. Phone lines that get answered. Email replies that sound human, not templated. Product listings that tell you what a tool actually does rather than just recycling manufacturer copy.

Their online store doesn’t try to mimic a global marketplace. It’s straightforward, clear and geared towards getting the right gear to the right person quickly. Nationwide delivery covers every county, and while they don’t promise exact delivery times, orders tend to arrive fast enough to keep projects moving.

Underneath all of that, though, is something rarer, the family-run business attitude that never disappeared. It’s visible in how the company communicates, how staff talk about stock and how issues get sorted. The whole thing works because it still runs on knowledge and accountability, not just logistics.

That combination, heritage service running through a modern platform, is what separates Carey tools from generic online retailers. It feels rooted, not transactional.

Product Range and Quality

Let’s get into it. Sure, the customer service side of things stands up to the test, but does the product quality and range?

There are more than 27,000 products arranged by trade and category, everything from hand and power tools to safety gear, fixings, garden equipment, and electrical and plumbing supplies. The kind of range that could easily overwhelm if it weren’t structured properly.

The website is intuitive and navigation filters by brand or trade, specs are listed clearly, and you can usually tell right away whether something is in stock or not.

Products come from trusted manufacturers only, no unbranded, no suspiciously cheap knock-offs. Everything is sourced through official distributors, which means authenticity isn’t a gamble.

There’s also a sense of curation, not clutter on the site, too. The store doesn’t throw every possible SKU online. It chooses what works, the reliable models, the proven accessories, the kits that pros actually use.

Ireland’s DIY market has grown in recent years with Statista and ECDB data showing annual growth rates of around 2.8% and 5-10% of ecommerce and Carey Tools is leaning into this, its expansion of its home and garden sections showing its paying attention to how people shop now: tradespeople during the week, homeowners during the weekend, both looking for real tools that last.

Pricing and Value

The pricing sits comfortably in the middle range, fairly predictable and grounded in product value rather than brand flash. Not the cheapest on the internet, but it’s not pretending to be. Prices match what professionals expect to pay for certified tools with proper guarantees.

Discounts run regularly enough to make bulk buying worth it, and there’s genuine pricing transparency; listed prices are not inflated “sales” hiding false markdowns.

The Pros

While the heritage alone is impressive, that’s not what carries them. Carey Tools has managed to scale while staying personal. They have staff actually know the stock, advice is grounded, and orders are processed efficiently. To round this out, the product range is consistent, and delivery is available across Ireland.

Honestly, it’s hard to find another Irish supplier that combines this breadth of product and delivery coverage with real customer support. It’s a company that works like a large retailer but with a small business feel to it. For tradespeople who depend on reliable turnaround times and DIYers who rely on advice before they purchase, this balance really works for Carey Tools.

The Cons

It wouldn’t be a balanced review without pointing out the bits that don’t work quite as well.

Nothing perfect, the website, while detailed, can feel busy to first-time browsers, and while that’s handy to have, it can make browsing feel slower at times, especially if you dont know what you need or you’re filtering larger categories.

There’s also limited after-hours support. Typical hours of businesses are built on traditional service hours, but if you’re planning jobs outside of these hours, it’s worth knowing the help isn’t available 24/7. 

While these aren’t deal breakers, they’re sometimes things people find off-putting, so knowing upfront is better than barrelling into things headfirst, oblivious.

Final Words

Carey Tools has lasted the distance because it works to earn its reputation every single day. No gimmicks, no glossy marketing, just decades of honest trade and reliable service. It’s this kind of operation that still feels local even when it’s shipping nationwide. And that’s why Carey Tools remains a name people can rely on.