Golden Discs and Tara Music founder Jack Fitzgerald dies aged 94

Jack Fitzgerald, the founder of Golden Discs, has died at he age of 94.

Fitzgerald was a pioneering figure in Irish music, starting out in the industry in 1962, when he co-founded the Trans-Atlantic Record Agency (TARA) with Tom Rogers. Four years later, in 1966, they rebranded as Golden Discs, opening a store in Ireland’s first shopping mall in Stillorgan.

Fitzgerald has been described as a visionary, entrepreneur and risk-taker, who played a pivotal role in shaping Ireland’s music industry. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Golden Discs became a cornerstone of the Irish music industry, selling everything from chart-topping albums to concert tickets and VHS rentals.

The company expanded nationwide and was a pioneer in home delivery, offering global mail-order services. The introduction of CDs and DVDs in the 1980s and 1990s fuelled further growth, leading to the opening of over 100 stores across Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, the late 2000s brought significant industry changes with the rise of the internet, file-sharing, and streaming platforms.

Today, 63 years after its founding, Golden Discs is still vital to the sales of physical product, operating 20 stores nationwide. Jack’s legacy continues through his son Stephen, who continues to develop and grow the family business.

Beyond Golden Discs, Jack also established Tara Records (now Tara Music), a leading traditional music label founded in 1972. The label’s first releases the legendary Christy Moore album Prosperous, which brought together the musicians that would become Planxty for the first time. Tara Records went on to release music from iconic artists such as Planxty, Clannad, The Chieftains, Bill Whelan, Davy Spillane, and Liam O’Flynn, among many more.

Jack Fitzgerald, aged 94, died peacefully on Saturday, March 15, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie, and their children: Gary, Stephen, Barbara, Debbie, and D.P.