Mulligans Tramore, Waterford’s only finalist in National Retail Excellence Awards.

This Saturday evening in Galway City Mulligans Pharmacy, Tramore will be Waterford’s sole representative at the Sunday Independent’s Retail Excellence Awards 2010.

Established by industry group, Retail Excellence Ireland, the awards recognise and reward the highest standards of excellence across the entire retail industry – not just one particular sector.

From a total of 590 leading retail companies who operate over 8,000 stores in the Irish market the judging process began in August and under the strictest criteria including personal visits (Mystery Shoppers) Retail Excellence Ireland whittled the entries down to the final Top 30. Of these finalists Mulligans new pharmacy at Summerhill in Tramore Co. Waterford is one of six competing for ‘Best Large Store’. Others competing in this category are;

PC World in Dublin
The Kilkenny Shop of Cork
Portwest of Dublin
Carraig Donn of Kilkenny;
Howard’s Storage World of Dublin

Now in its 13th year the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards is the benchmark by which the best in retail are judged. The Awards are focused on promoting and recognising standards of excellence in retail and the Awards programme is now the largest of its kind in Ireland. Mulligans Pharmacy is no stranger to these awards being short listed last year for ‘Best Store’ following the refurbishment of its City Square pharmacy in 2009. (See attached picture)

On Tuesday May 25th 2010 Mulligan’s pharmacy opened what was then their latest store at Tramore, they subsequently acquired Mullally’s pharmacy in Dunmore East. Tramore represented a state of the art pharmacy standing in a prime location in the future development of Tramore retail services at the Summerhill centre. Beside Lidl, opposite Tesco and just off the Ring Road this new centre offers an alternative retail option to the already vibrant Tramore shopping experience.

Ronan Mulligan at the time said that they were delighted to have finally opened this new store, ‘We have been looking to open a branch in Tramore for some time now but were waiting for suitable premises. Now we’re open I see how appropriate it is that a Waterford owned family business has a store in such a vibrant part of the county’.

Last week he also expressed his delight at Tramore being nominated as one of the countries top 30 stores, “While we try not to highlight one pharmacy over another this nomination is a reflection of all the hard work our staff in Tramore has put in to the venture, especially in such difficult times.”

The Retail Excellence Ireland Awards in association with the Sunday Independent to be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway on Saturday November 6th. The awards will be attended by over 500 representatives of the Irish retail industry and hosted by Miriam O’Callaghan.

Enterprising Wexford woman launches on line Health Directory

It has often been highlighted that during times of recession a new generation of self made entrepreneurs springs up to take the economic bull by the horns. One such enterprising individual is Wexford woman Catherine Breen, who recently launched Health Directory.ie.

Health Directory.ie is Ireland’s newest dedicated on-line health directory tailored specifically to conventional and alternative health practitioners and service providers. The premise of the website is to give the general public free access to a myriad of information about practitioners in the island of Ireland.

Health Directory.ie is the brainchild of New Ross woman Catherine Breen, a practicing beauty, body and complementary therapist with almost 13 years experience. According to Ms. Breen, Health Directory.ie will give users comprehensive and up to date information about professionals working in the health and well being sectors in Ireland.

“The concept is quite simple. We wanted users to make an informed decision when it comes to their health issues. Health Directory.ie is an easy to navigate site containing contact and web site details about a host of conventional and alternative practitioners, such as G.P.’s, dentists, physiotherapists, chiropodists, nutritionists, counselors, children’s health professionals and so much more. In fact the list is almost inexhaustible.”

“Each county features a selection of professionals so it makes it easier for the user to find out about who is practicing in their location, which organisations they are affiliated to and what areas of therapy they specialise in. In order to offer a comprehensive site we have made the registration process for practitioners very straightforward and in fact it only takes a few minutes on line.”

The initiative has received grant aid from local enterprise and development organisations. Eileen Dake of Wexford Local Development said “It is encouraging to work with such an energetic and innovative individual as Catherine. By allowing users to know about the health services available to them the decisions they make will be more measured.”

“These are the kind of projects that Wexford Local Development is willing to support and encourage as the potential for growth and expansion and the subsequent opportunity to create local employment is paramount to our economic recovery.”

Tom Banville of Wexford County Enterprise Board added, “Catherine has showed a true enterprising spirit which is refreshing to see in today’s economic climate. Wexford County Enterprise Board is confident that Health Directory.ie will flourish and as an organisation that supports start-ups we are delighted to give Catherine the backing she deserves.”

For further information about the health services and practitioners in your area, visit http://www.healthditectory.ie/ or call 086 8801070.

Arthritis Ireland partners with Home Instead Senior Care to “Inform, Enable and Empower”

Arthritis affects over one in six people in Ireland, with almost 34% of women and 23% of men suffering from some form of arthritis.

As a serious national health problem, with 714,000 sufferers, Arthritis Ireland and Home Instead Senior Care have developed an information booklet “Caring Hands; Caring for a person with Arthritis” and will hold a free information evening for arthritis suffers and their families and carers.

The Arthritis information evening, takes place during National Arthritis Week, on Wednesday, October 13th from 7pm to 9pm at Home Instead Senior Care, Cleaboy Business Park, Old Kilmeaden Road in Waterford.

There will be a talk by nutritionist Jemma Kehoe, of Nutritional Therapy that will highlight the importance of a healthy nutritional diet in the prevention and alleviation of arthritis and its consequences.

Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Waterford said “The launch of the Caring Hands information booklet will offer practical help to arthritis sufferers, their families and their carers. In fact the purpose of the booklet is to stress that there are no right or wrong ways in caring for someone who has arthritis. Instead it offers practical, tried and tested advice, covers some of the most common questions asked by carers and gives sources of further support and information.”

“Home Instead Senior Care is delighted to partner with Arthritis Ireland to develop this publication. During National Arthritis Week, the focus will be on alleviating some of the common misperceptions people have about arthritis and informing them of the help, resources and services that are available to people with arthritis.”

The Arthritis information evening and the launch of the ‘Caring Hands’ Training Programme and information booklet will take place on Wednesday, October 13th from 7pm to 9pm at Home Instead Senior Care, Unit 3, Cleaboy Business Park, Waterford.

Admission is free and all are welcome.

To find out more about the event call Danette Connolly of Home Instead Senior Care on 051 333966 or visit http://www.arthritisireland.ie/ or http://www.homeinstead.ie/


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