The staff of Primark form the guard of honor at the funeral of the founder of the shop

Store staff formed a guard of honor for Primark founder Arthur Ryan when his funeral procession was adopted by the chain's first store.

Mr. Ryan, who died of a short illness early in the week at the age of 83, opened the store 50 years ago in Dublin, where he was marketed as Penneys.

Today's employees cheered on a moving tribute as the hearse carrying Mr. Ryan pbaded the store on Jervis Street in central Dublin.

Penneys had to change his name to Primark for European stores located outside of Ireland, with JC Penney holding the copyright on that name.

Half a century after its founding, Primark now has 370 stores in 12 countries and employs 75,000 people.

Mr. Ryan was Chief Executive Officer until 2009, occupying the President's seat until his death.

He oversaw much of the expansion, including the opening of the first British Primark store in 1973.

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The boss also helped to consolidate the name of Primark in the British high street by buying 120 former branches of Littlewoods in 2005.

The tribute to Mr. Ryan in front of the Penneys store preceded his funeral at the Scared Heart Church in Donnybrook, South Dublin.

George Weston, Managing Director of Primark's parent company, Associated British Foods, said this week that Ryan will be remembered as a "big retail giant."