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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Picking up the Community Initiative Award at the evening ceremony is Paul Harkin, Harkin's Gala, Raphoe (centre) with Treasa Flynn, PJ Carroll’s, and Tony Cluskey, Gala Retail
Three Gala convenience stores in Donegal have been awarded the Gala Award for excellence in retail at the Gala Annual Conference. The Donegal stores that received the awards were Harkin's Gala, St Johnston, Lifford; Browne's Gala, Manorcunningham and Harkin's Gala, Raphoe which also picked up the award for Best Community Initiative 2023 at the evening reception.
Ivan Browne, Browne's Gala, Manorcunningham with Siobhan Grimes, Retail Operation Manager at Gala Retail
The excellence award is presented to stores that are deemed ‘outstanding’ following a comprehensive and independent assessment process. The Gala Annual Conference took place at The Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry and it marked a celebration of 25 years in business for the Gala Retail Group.
Ger Crawford, Harkin's Gala Ballybofey with Siobhan Grimes, Retail Operation Manager at Gala Retail
“The Gala Excellence awards recognise excellence in retailing across the entire Gala Group and we offer our congratulations to all of the Donegal stores who have been recognised as outstanding in the field of convenience retailing, especially in the Gala Group’s 25th year in business,” CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond, said while speaking at the conference.
“These stores provide a fantastic service to their customers, day in, day out and we wish them and all stores across the wider group, a successful year ahead and look forward to celebrating their future successes.’’
The Gala Excellence awards kicked off the 2023 Gala conference which brought together Gala retailers, wholesalers and suppliers for a celebration of the Gala Group’s performance and an overview of plans for the future, as well as an action-packed few days of activities including the supplier trade fair.
The group was also joined for the day by elite-level football coach/manager, Lisa Fallon and Irish Broadcaster, Ivan Yates. An evening awards ceremony followed and was MC’d by television presenter Lucy Kennedy with Irish Comedian, Mario Rosenstock providing entertainment.
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