Last Saturday evening, Caoilfhionn and I, along with our daughter Éadaoin, found ourselves at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, surrounded by over 300 pharmacy professionals from across Ireland, waiting to hear the winners of the 2025 Pharmacy Excellence Awards.

When Collins Kinsale Pharmacy was announced as the Gold winner for Excellence in Community Pharmacy in the independent category, it felt surreal. After 33 years of serving this community, the recognition was both humbling and deeply meaningful.

What This Award Represents

This isn’t just our award—it belongs to every member of our team who shows up each day committed to providing exceptional care. It belongs to the community of Kinsale, who have trusted us with their healthcare needs for over three decades.

The Pharmacy Excellence Awards, run in partnership with the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund, celebrate pharmacies demonstrating outstanding patient care, team development, and community service. We were selected from over 200 entries nationwide, judged by an expert panel who assessed everything from patient care quality to innovation and team culture.

Built on Relationships, Not Just Prescriptions

When we established Collins Kinsale Pharmacy in 1992, our vision was simple: create a pharmacy where people feel genuinely cared for and supported. Not just a place to collect prescriptions, but a healthcare partner you could trust with questions, concerns, and those moments when you’re not quite sure what’s wrong but something doesn’t feel right.

That philosophy has guided us through countless changes in healthcare, pharmacy practice, and our community. Technology has evolved, regulations have shifted, and the scope of pharmacy services has expanded dramatically—but our commitment to personalized, patient-centered care has remained constant.

The Team Behind the Award

Caoilfhionn manages much of our dispensing operations, ensuring every prescription meets the highest standards of accuracy and care. Our wider team brings expertise, compassion, and dedication to their work every single day. They’re the ones who remember your name, ask about your family, and take the extra time to make sure you understand your medications.

This award reflects their collective excellence.

Looking Forward

Recognition like this reminds us why we do what we do. In an era of chain pharmacies and corporate healthcare, being honored for independent community pharmacy excellence validates our belief that personal relationships and local knowledge matter in healthcare.

We’re grateful to the Pharmacy Benevolent Fund and Ashville Media Group for organizing these awards, to United Drug for sponsoring our category, and most importantly, to you—our Kinsale community—for your trust and support over the past 33 years.

Thank you for making Collins Kinsale Pharmacy part of your healthcare journey. Here’s to continuing to serve you with the same dedication that earned us this recognition.

With gratitude,

John and Caoilfhionn,
On behalf of the entire team at Collins Kinsale Pharmacy