1. What are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help improve user experience, support website functionality, and provide analytics data.
There are different types:
| Type | Purpose | Lifespan | Consent Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential (Strictly Necessary) | Website functionality (e.g. basket, login state, cookie consent banner settings). Without these your experience may be impaired. | Session or persistent (up to 12 months) | No |
| Performance / Analytics | Collect anonymous insights (e.g. pages visited, time spent, speed). We use this to improve usability. | 12 months | Yes |
| Functional | Remember preferences (e.g. language, font size). | 12 months | Yes |
| Advertising / Targeting | Provide tailored marketing and adverts (e.g. retargeting ads). | Up to 24 months | Yes |
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
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Ensure core site functions (shopping basket, login, form completions).
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Understand site usage (aggregated metrics via Google Analytics or similar).
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Save your settings (language, cookie preferences).
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Deliver relevant marketing and advertising content (retargeting).
3. Consent & Managing Cookies
On your first site visit, our cookie banner will request your consent for non-essential cookies (Performance, Functional, Advertising). You can adjust your preferences via the banner at any time:
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Click Cookie Settings to accept or decline categories.
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To change preferences later, click Manage Cookies in our website footer.
4. Disabling Cookies
You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Here are links for major browsers:
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Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
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Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
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Edge: Settings → Site permissions → Cookies and site data
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Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
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Mobile browsers: Usually under Settings → Privacy or Safari/Chrome settings
⚠️ Blocking essential cookies may disrupt site functionality. If unsure, browser documentation can help.
5. Third-Party Cookies
Our site may include cookies from external services such as:
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Google Analytics for site insights
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Social media share buttons (Facebook, Pinterest)
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Advertising networks for retargeting and ad delivery
These third parties handle data under their own privacy policies. We don’t share personal identification with these services—they receive anonymous or pseudonymized browsing data only.
6. Cookie List
| Name | Source | Type | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHPSESSID | ocallaghansfireplaces.ie | Essential | Maintains your session (e.g. logged-in state) | Session |
_ga, _gid | Google Analytics | Performance | Tracks visits, pages viewed, time on site | _ga: 2 years, _gid: 24 hrs |
_gat, _gat_gtag_UA_* | Google Analytics | Performance | Throttles request rate to GA servers | 1 minute |
cookie_consent | ocallaghansfireplaces.ie | Essential | Records your cookie banner response | 12 months |
remember_language | ocallaghansfireplaces.ie | Functional | Saves your selected language preference | 12 months |
fr, _fbp | Advertising | Used by Facebook for ad-delivery within and outside site | Up to 3 months |
(Update this table whenever you add or change third‑party tools.)
7. Why Cookie Consent Matters
GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive require users to give informed consent for non-essential cookies before they’re set. Our approach ensures:
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Transparency — we disclose cookies and their purposes.
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Choice — you decide which cookie types to accept.
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Control — you can review and update preferences anytime.
8. Updating This Policy
We may update this policy if cookie usage changes or new laws apply. The Last updated date above will indicate the most recent version. We’ll also highlight any significant updates on our website.
9. Contact Us
Questions about this policy? Email us at fireplaces@irlmail.com or call 021 488 5899.
