Ciara Kirke of the Health Service Executive was honoured with the Overall Pharmacist of the Year award at the 2024 Irish Pharmacy Excellence Awards in association with the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund, held at the Mansion House and hosted by broadcaster Anton Savage.
The Pharmacy Excellence Awards made its long-awaited return for the first time since 2017. The event was held in a beautifully decorated, Christmas-themed room, adding to the festive atmosphere as attendees gathered to celebrate the achievements of pharmacy professionals across Ireland.
The awards’ 20 diverse categories celebrated excellence across various sectors of pharmacy including sustainability, equality & diversity, health initiatives, practice-based research and community pharmacies, reflecting the integral roles that pharmacies and pharmacists play across the Irish industry.
The Irish Pharmacy Excellence Awards were joined by their official sponsors, with a thanks to Athlone Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacy Benevolent Fund, Business Post, Clarity Locums, Fitzgerald Power, IPU, Ireland’s BlueBook, Navi Group, Reckitt, Select Hotels, Touchstore and United Drug who all attended on the night.
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The Pharmacy Excellence Awards recognise the vital role pharmacists and pharmacy teams play in healthcare. By celebrating innovation, dedication and patient-centred care, the awards highlight the significant contributions made by professionals to improve health outcomes and enhance community well-being. Recognising these achievements not only honours individuals and teams but also fosters a culture of excellence, inspiring continuous growth and progress within the Irish pharmacy profession.
In the Excellence in Locum Pharmacy category, Michael Shannon from LLoyds Pharmacy took home the trophy, presented by Anthony O’Neill, Managing Director of Clarity Locums who spoke about the importance of the night. “The event showcases the excellence awards coupled with the charitable side of the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund.” He stated that operating in the pharmacy, nursing and GP sectors, the Irish Pharmacy Excellence Awards is the first “awards ceremony available across the entire healthcare sector that has fused both the charity and meritorious side”.
Leigh Quilty, partner at Fitzgerald Power said that “community pharmacy plays a vital role in our healthcare sector. It is often the first point of contact for people seeking medical care or advice. We at Fitzgerald Power are proud to be the leading financial advisor to the pharmacy sector, and sponsored the award to champion the vital role that community pharmacy plays in the Irish healthcare system.” Leigh presented the winner of the Young Pharmacist of the Year award to Anne-Marie Doherty, Blackrock Clinic Dublin.
Noel Killeen, Key Account Manager from the Business Post, praised the pharmacy sector for the key role it has played the length and breadth of Ireland throughout the years. “At the Business Post, we always want to support small businesses and of course pharmacies are small businesses. They are in every town and city throughout the country, contributing to the local economy and employment and are a trusted element and profession within our society. Therefore, the Business Post is in the right place to support the trust they offer to people in the public health setting.” Noel proudly presented Hickeys Pharmacy, Northside Shopping Centre with their trophy for Professional Excellence Award.
Nicola Cantwell, President of the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund stated: “Pharmacies are the cornerstone of public health, putting patient care front and centre of everything they do. It doesn’t matter what part of the pharmacy sector you work in, whether it’s community, industry, hospital, with the cancer services or with the IPU. Wherever it is, we need to celebrate excellence in pharmacy much more.” Nicola presented Mary Dowd, a case worker for the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund, with the Lifetime Achievement award. Mary received a standing ovation from the audience for her tireless years of hard work and dedication with the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund.
Orlagh Dunne, Sales Manager at United Drug, who sponsored the Excellence in Community Pharmacy Independent category, presented Reidy’s Pharmacy, Rathcoole with their award on the night. Orlagh spoke about the importance of recognising the exemplary service that pharmacies give to our community, saying: “United Drug are a proud sponsor of the awards because we want to ensure that we demonstrate complete commitment and support to our Irish pharmacies so that they can deliver the patient care that is needed in the community and we’re trying to make it as easy as possible.”
If you could not make it on the night, not to worry! Check out our incredible highlights video, which captures the unforgettable atmosphere and best moments of the ceremony.
The awards ceremony would not have been possible without our panel of expert judges drawn from all areas of the pharmacy sector.
Full list of judges
Aine Martin, Head of Retail Operations, Lloyds Ireland
Amy Murphy, QP at Eli Lilly
Breda Heneghan, Supervising Pharmacist at Whelehans Pharmacy
Caoimhe McAuley, Director of Pharmacy & Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots Ireland and Vice President of the IPU
Dr. Catriona Bradley, Executive Director of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy
Ciaran Rooney, Owner of Haven Pharmacy McAleers
Dermot Twomey, Owner, Cloone Pharmacy and former president of the IPU
Emily Kelly, Community Pharmacist at McCauley
Jane Clarke, Key Account Executive for Accord Healthcare Ireland
Maeve Hynes, Pharmacist - Procurement at Health Service Executive
Maura Kinahan, Founding member of Pharmacists in Industry, Education, Regulatory (PIER)
Paul Ryan, Pharmacy/GP, Founder of GPConsult.ie, Pharmabuddy.ie, Dermabuddy.ie and GPConsult.co.uk
Paula Reilly, Total Health Pharmacy, Longford
Ronan Sheridan, (Chairperson), Owner, Magner’s Pharmacy
Tamasine Grimes, Practising Pharmacist and Associate Professor in Practise of Pharmacy in Trinity College Dublin
Tom Concannon, Superintendent Pharmacist Allcare, Hickeys and McCauleys
Tomas Conefrey, Owner, Conefry’s CarePlus Pharmacy
Irish Pharmacy Excellence Awards 2024 Winners
Overall Pharmacist of the Year:
Ciara Kirke, Health Service Executive
Patient nominated award:
Tadhg Scanlan, Tierney’s Pharmacy, Wicklow
Commitment to Sustainability, Health & Wellbeing:
Gold: Elaine Kneissl
Silver: Padraig Murphy, Haven Pharmacy Murphy’s, Clonard, Co. Wexford
Bronze: Patricia Heckmann, National Cancer Control Programme
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Award:
Gold: Deirdre Butler, Higgins Pharmacy Team, Sligo
Silver: McCabes Pharmacy, formerly Lloyds Pharmacy, Blackrock
Bronze: Jennifer Regan, Home Pharmacy, Galway
Excellence in Community Pharmacy Chain/Group (Multiple outlets and single superintendent):
Gold: Boots Pharmacy Ireland
Silver: McCabes Pharmacy, formerly Lloyds Pharmacy
Bronze: McCauley Pharmacy
Excellence in Community Pharmacy Independent (Single outlet and single superintendent):
Gold: Reidy’s Pharmacy, Rathcoole
Silver: Rosscarbery Pharmacy, Cork
Bronze: Sheenas Pharmacy, Meath
Excellence in Locum pharmacy:
Gold: Michael Shannon, Lloyds Pharmacy
Silver: Jamie Phillips, Chemosis Medical Services Ltd
Bronze: Malachi Quinn
Excellence in Pharmacy in Non-Patient Facing Roles:
Gold: Stan O’Neill, PIER
Silver: Clare Fitzell, Irish Pharmacy Union
Bronze: Navi Group and CarePlus Pharmacy
Health Initiative of the Year:
Gold: Ciara Kirke, Health Service Executive
Silver: Elizabeth Breen, National Cancer Control Programme - National SACT Regimen Team
Bronze: Navi Group and CarePlus Pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year:
Gold: Rotunda Hospital
Silver: Wexford General Hospital
Bronze: The National Maternity Hospital
Manager of the Year:
Gold: Jenn Bonnie, CarePlus Pharmacy Clonsilla
Silver: Michelle Burke, Your Local Pharmacy Beacon
Bronze: Chris Doherty, McCauley Pharmacy Greystones
Pharmacist Contribution to the Community:
Gold: Noelle Madden, Rosscarbery Pharmacy, Cork
Silver: Sheena Mitchell, Milltown Totalhealth Pharmacy, Dublin
Bronze: Shaunagh Galgey, Spooner’s CarePlus Pharmacy
Pharmacist led team award:
Gold: Aine Martin, Pharmacy Operations Team, McCabes Pharmacy, formerly Lloyds Pharmacy
Silver: Pharmacy Department, Connolly Hospital
Bronze: Corach Pharmacy, Wexford
Pharmacy Technician of the Year:
Gold: Louise Prunty, Baxters Pharmacy Longford
Silver: Tara Hayden, Senior Hospital Pharmacy Technician, St. Luke’s, HSE
Bronze: Malgorzata Dyszlewska, McElwee Totalhealth Pharmacy
Practice Based Research awards:
Kieran Dalton, University College Cork
Professional Excellence award:
Gold: Hickeys Pharmacy, Northside Shopping Centre
Silver: Rotunda Hospital
Bronze: Owen Sullivan, McCabes Pharmacy, formerly Lloyds Pharmacy, Dun Laoghaire
Special Recognition Award:
Gold: Patricia Heckmann, National Cancer Control Programme
Silver: Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP)
Bronze: Wexford General Hospital
Team Member of the Year:
Gold: Edel Cullen, Lannon’s Allcare Late Night Pharmacy
Silver: Elaine Creech, Hickeys Pharmacy, Ballyphehane
Bronze: Shaunagh Galgey, Spooner’s CarePlus Pharmacy
Young Pharmacists of the Year:
Gold: Anne-Marie Doherty, Blackrock Clinic Dublin
Silver: Emma O’Reilly, Perrystown Allcare Pharmacy
Bronze: Catarina Augusto, Your Local Pharmacy, Ballinteer
Lifetime Achievement:
Mary Dowd, Case Worker for Pharmacy Benevolent Fund
For more information, visit pharmacyexcellenceawards.ie
#PharmacyExcellenceIRL2024
