Our Story

Founder Noel Fitzgibbon 1984

The Fitzgibbon family hails from a proud tradition of Kerry stonemasons. Over generations, we honed our craft, earning a reputation for hard work, innovation, and excellence. In 1989, Noel Fitzgibbon carried this legacy forward by founding Ard Rí Marble in Tralee, specialising in handcrafted fireplaces.

What began as a small local factory with just five employees has since grown into a global enterprise. Today, Ard Rí Group is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, affordable homeware products, employing over 1,000 people across Ireland, the UK, and Asia. We are proud to be the market leader in Ireland’s homeware sector and are on a clear trajectory to achieve the same in the UK within the next three years.

When Noel retired in 2000, we assumed leadership of the business with a clear vision: to secure control over our supply and delivery chains. This strategic move allowed us to maintain superior quality standards while guaranteeing product availability for our customers.

Navigating linguistic, cultural, and political challenges, we invested in two large manufacturing facilities in Guangdong, China. These factories now serve as the backbone of our operations, employing 750 people and supplying a trusted network of over 1,200 retailers throughout Ireland and the UK. This investment was transformative, giving Ard Rí a robust, self-managed supply chain and unrivalled quality control.

Left to right: Neil Fitzgibbon, Mike O’Toole, Lucy Frazer – Cambridge MP , Paul Fitzgibbon

Ard Ri Marble Staff

We further strengthened our position by developing our own transport and distribution network across Ireland and the UK. Our portfolio now includes premium doors, stoves, architraves, and a broad range of homeware products. Our distribution system is built for reliability, offering on-time delivery, high product quality, and exceptional customer service. During the global disruptions of Covid-19, our supply chain resilience became a key competitive advantage.

As part of our continued growth, we are thrilled to announce the acquisition of a new premises in Ballybeggan. This strategic expansion marks a new chapter in the Ard Rí journey. We are excited about the opportunities this development brings—not only in terms of business growth but also in job creation and local economic development. Our investment in Ballybeggan underscores our long-term commitment to innovation, excellence, and community.