Any shops sell lego besides Smyths, Tesco, etc?

Retired sets are exceedingly hard to find in any retail store these days, its not like the 90s to mid 00s.

Independent toy stores - Toymaster branches or outright independents in regional towns (or Donaghmede Shopping Centre, if its still there) are your best chance and even those rarely have them

Boots, Easons both sell small amounts of smaller sets.

Two shops I've been in that have some retired sets:

• Nimble Fingers in Stillorgan, Dublin
• Duffy toyworld in Dunleer, Louth

Bricklink is definitely best value for MISB retired sets.