Ryan's Pharmacy wins major national award

Ryan's Pharmacy in Edenderry was named Pharmacy of the Year at the Elavon Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2026 on Saturday.

Over 500 executives from the retail industry attended the ceremony at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny, hosted by Retail Excellence Ireland, the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland.

In a social media post, Ryan's Pharmacy said it was "absolutely delighted and beyond proud".

"A huge thank you to our incredible Edenderry team for their hard work, dedication and support throughout the year. This achievement wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of you, or the continued support of our amazing customers who wished us luck along the way. This award means so much to us, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together!" it said.

Cork-based EZ Living Interiors won National Retailer of the Year and was commended by the judges as a friendly, well‑run space where staff go the extra mile and customer experience is a top priority.

Speaking following the awards, Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland, said: "It’s a pleasure to honour the winners of the 2026 Elavon Retail Excellence Ireland Awards here in Kilkenny this evening. The standard across this year’s submissions has been exceptional, and our panel of judges found it incredibly difficult to choose the final recipients.

"Our awards ceremony continues to be one of the standout moments in Ireland’s retail calendar, offering a chance to spotlight the effort and innovation that characterises our sector. With retailers across the country bravely confronting persistently high costs, the momentum we’re seeing gives us grounds to approach 2027 with hope."

Established by Retail Excellence Ireland in 1997, the awards is the biggest event in the Irish retail industry calendar and aims to promote best practice and encourage high standards in the Irish retail industry.