From its modest beginnings in a hay barn in Ballyclough in Mallow, JMR Tiles has become one of the key players in the Cork timber and tile market.  

Set-up by son, father and son-in law trio; John Hogan, Martin Hogan and Richard Lucey respectively, the company was born from a novel idea by the three men who decided to take advantage of the many contacts which Martin had established with tile and furniture suppliers over the years.

Working as a truck driver, Martin had met with many of the top tile, furniture and timber suppliers abroad and had learned a lot about the trade.

Armed with this contacts base, a degree of curiosity and willing to take a risk, the three decided to start their own part-time business where they would source and sell top-quality goods including tiles, pavement and garden furniture in Cork at keen prices.

The three brought their first container back to Cork almost five years ago, filled with tiles, pavement and garden furniture and set-up their new business in a hay-barn. John, Martin and Richard, who at the time were all working full-time, worked by appointment from this modest barn but, soon found their weekends and evenings were diminishing as demand for their products continued to grow.

Just over a year into the business, the three began to recognise that their small-project had blossomed into something much bigger than ever anticipated and Richard decided to start working part-time at the barn.  John was quick to follow in his footsteps and also decided to take this leap of faith.

Fifteen months after first opening,  the three decided it was time to move their business to the next level and so they opened their first tile shop in Mallow. The business continued to grow rapidly and as the shop got busier and busier, John, Richard and Martin decided to open a second shop in Fermoy and Martin , who up to then had retained his job, joined his son and son-in-law who were now working full-time for the company.