Mullingar Store to feature in “Irish Store of the Year” Final

Below is a copy of what we recently sent out local media outlets announcing us reaching the final for  "Irish Store of the Year 2014" - John

A Mullingar store will feature in the final of this years  “Irish Store of the Year”. Highlighting the quality of local indigenous retailers the town has to offer at national level.

The pharmacy at Austin Friars opened just last year in one of Mullingar’s landmark medical buildings, The Old Dispensary directly behind “The Monks” statue, so this nomination is a source of great pride to everyone connected with the store, especially John Keane, Gillian Ryan, Leona Irwin and Eithne Mannering who work in it.

Local pharmacist John Keane opened Market Point Pharmacy in Patrick  Street in 2008; that store’s high quality of service was recognised in “Top 5 in Category” nominations in the same REI competition in both 2011 and 2013. In 2010 John’s brother Robert joined the team, opening Green Road Pharmacy, which recently extended its opening hours until 9pm nightly to meet customers’ developing needs. At the end of 2013 the brothers took a brave step in their decision to breathe new life into the landmark building in Austin Friars with an extensive and tasteful renovation.

All 3 stores have built their business on good old fashioned customer service and value for money while looking after the medical needs of local customers in a professional and welcoming manner. This has been recognised not only in their customers’ reactions over the last 5 years, but also through a range of objective awards from bodies including Retail Excellence Ireland (2011, 2013, & 2014), The Irish Pharmacy Awards (2013 & 2014), and Midlands Gateway Chamber of Commerce (2014).

The 2014 awards ceremony will take place in Galway on November 1st this year. Keanes Pharmacy - representing Mullingar - will find themselves head-to head against strong national and regional brands in this year’s final - Butlers Chocolate Café ( Liffey Street, Dublin), Compu B, (William Street, Galway), Garrett’s, (Castletroy, Limerick), L’Occitane En Provence, (Wicklow Street, Dublin) and Eircom Meteor,( Pavilion Shopping Centre, Swords, Dublin). Each and every one will be fighting it out for the top spot. Regardless of the eventual result, Mullingar’s Keane brothers, along with family, friends and supporters, will be flying the retail flag with pride for their home town and county on the night.

John Keane is the pharmacist owner at Austin Friars Pharmacy and can be contacted at 0868626763.

Film Crew Arrives in Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars!

We had great excitement this morning in Austin Friars. Because we have reached the final of "Irish Store of the Year" a film crew was sent down to film us for the awards night. 

Thanks to all staff and parents that formed part of "rent a crowd" for the morning - budding thespians the lot of you! 

As part of the video they required 10 random facts on the store. Heres what we came up with:

10 Facts about Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars

1. The store is a 300 year old building that was previously a bank, a county dispensary and an orphanage! The statue of 2 monks outside represent the history of the area.
2. A lot of the history has been maintained in the design of the store – the old name – “the dispensary” is now celebrated in white neon inside, and a map of Mullingar dating from 1914 is featured on the wall of the waiting area.
3. A traditional farmhouse AGA bought locally on donedeal.ie for €450  is placed in front of the original chimney breast maintaining the character of the building
4. The store has two consultation rooms; one for the pharmacist and another for complimentary practitioners.
5. The monks outside the store represent the start of the Camino de Santiago trail from the midlands – next stop saint James’ Gate Guinness Brewery, Dublin
6. Old pharmacy bottles are dotted around the store to emphasise  the heritage of the building and mixing the old with the new
7. In our 300 year old building, niche brands such as Fuschia & Decleor catch the eye, creative displays, and regular medical and cosmetic events really set us apart.
8. This is Keanes Pharmacy third time to be in the prestigious REI “store of the year final”
9. Keanes Pharmacy have two other stores in Mullingar, Market Point and Green Road
10. Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars celebrate the fact that they are local and independent and that there is no other store like theirs in the world!

www.keanespharmacy.com

Down with Blood Pressure! The skinny on BP in Ireland

With high blood pressure heavily increasing the likelihood of heart disease and stroke, it’s recommended that everyone get their blood pressure checked at least every five years, increasing to once a year as we get older. This advice becomes particularly pertinent when we read that half of all adults in Ireland over the age of 45 suffer from high blood pressure, and worryingly, perhaps 4 out of 5 men and two thirds of women with the condition are going untreated.

Luckily, there are now more options than ever when it comes to getting checked for this common ailment.

Irish Heart Foundation Blood Pressure Road Show 2014

Perhaps the most convenient and certainly the cheapest option over the autumn months this year is to pay a visit to the Irish Heart Foundation’s free blood pressure testing centres all around the country. A quick visit to http://www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/blood-pressure-road-show-2014-t-8_201_1310.html will give you all the details of the most convenient date and time in your county. In addition to testing and advice, staff will be happy to provide you with helpful free leaflets and booklets, full of information and tips on how to control blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.

Your Local Pharmacist

Pharmacies are increasingly offering blood pressure testing for customers along with medication and consultations, sometimes with appointment, but often as a walk in service. This service is generally available without appointment and free of charge.

Your Family Doctor

Blood pressure is usually taken as a matter of course with any G.P. check up, but if you’re worried or perhaps showing symptoms of low blood pressure (discussed below), a traditional doctor’s appointment will be sufficient to put your mind at ease and diagnose what the problem is. In the event that you are found to have either high or low blood pressure, your doctor will be able to proscribe any necessary medication and advise on how to arrange your diet and lifestyle in order to minimise any potential problems down the line.

When to Get Checked

High blood pressure does not in fact have any visible symptoms, and so it is best to get your pressure checked as often as the minimum durations mentioned above. Though the Irish Heart Foundation recommends a maximum period of one test every five years for younger people, it is a lot better to get regular check-ups and consultations more often than this, even if you are not showing any signs of ill health.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, can manifest itself in dizzy spells or a feeling of fainting, particularly when standing up. If this is happening to you regularly, it is best to book an appointment for a check.

How Does It Work?

Blood pressure testing takes two minutes and is completely painless. An inflatable cuff is placed over the patient’s upper arm and then inflated. An automatic machine then measures the pressure of blood and displays the results digitally.

John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449341704 ©Keanes Pharmacy 2014 www.keanespharmacy.com

Splish Splash - Water charges nearly here! What is your ideal bath?

With just a few short months to go before the introduction of water charges, now is the time to enjoy a few extra-long soaks in the bath before you have to start thinking about the first bills arriving in the post in the New Year. Once the free levy is used up for each adult and child, charges of about half a cent per litre will be placed on all water that a household uses each quarter. An average bath uses about 80 litres of water, meaning that from the end of this year, we’ll be charged the princely sum of 40 cents per bath that we take. Now is the time then to break out the bubbly and enjoy the last of the good times!

Deep Steep Lavender/Chamomile

After a long day, or an even longer week, the whole point of a good bubble bath is to relax completely and get rid of all the stresses of the day to day. There are few better combinations for this than lavender and chamomile. Chamomile has long been renowned for its soothing qualities, as anyone who tried its tea variant can attest, and the fragrance of lavender will fill the room and conjure up images of peaceful country walks on a summer’s day. A must.

Irish Organics Seaweed Tonic Bath

For those of us looking for a little more regeneration than relaxation, Irish Organics could have the answer with their Seaweed Tonic Bath. Containing “mineral and protein rich hand harvested seaweed”, this is a bubble bath that brings a little bit of the spa treatment to your home. Along with the seaweed, it includes citrus and hyssopus extracts, both excellent skin tonics for increased relaxation, better circulation and soothing healing, along with amaranth protein, which is “rich in amino acids” for a healthy glow.

The Radox Range

A perennial favourite in all Irish stores, Radox carries a little something for everyone in their wide range of bath products. For those of us with the more active jobs or have just enjoyed a good session on the pitch or in the gym, they boast not one, but two sport orientated foams, the “Muscle Soak” and the “Muscle Therapy”, both of which promise to relieve even the hardest knocks and aches. For you’re looking to kickstart the evening then there is the Radox “Eastern Spirit”, with orange blossom and oriental lotus, as well as the “Brazilian Fusion” with extracts of dragon fruit and camu camu berry.

And for the kids…

Like Radox, Johnson’s are one of those brands that seem to have been around forever, and that is always the sign of good quality products and care for customer’s needs. Johnson’s has a range of fun bubble baths for kids, some with well-loved characters like Goofy, Tigger, and Minnie Mouse, as well as its special Soothing Vapour Baby Bath, which promises to send baby off to sleep for a peaceful night afterward.   

©Keanes Pharmacy 

Can Aftershave Be Bad For Me?

Answer:  Aftershave, like a lot of hygiene products for men, is something that not a lot of us think about a lot beyond the fragrance. Indeed, most Irish men at least will avoid talking about the products they use like the plague, as if it’s something that they have no part in whatsoever, most often mumbling something about getting it for Christmas or how their other half bought it for them. Aftershave can be something of an exception to this rule, but the only thing that is likely to merit a mention is if it is a fairly well-known brand or at least on the expensive side. Any discussion beyond that will usually result in a blank stare or perhaps a friendly shrug.

This is odd when we consider that aftershave is a product we apply on a daily or near daily basis to our face, but one which we most likely put zero thought into when it comes to how it is affecting our skin. It can be hard to admit that a certain product is irritating the skin or causing discomfort, let alone murmur that forbidden term “sensitive skin.” But if you’re finding that the blotchy look of shaving rash and blood on your collar is outweighing the benefit of your favourite aftershave’s scent, here are a few alternatives to consider.

Cut Out the Alcohol

A wet shave using water, cream, and a razor leaves the pores of the face open, as well many tiny nicks and cuts on the skin which are often all but invisible. The majority of men’s aftershaves contain alcohol to treat these cuts and open pores to ensure that they do not become clogged or infected. The problem with that, however, is that alcohol dehydrates the skin and often leaves it feeling tight, as well as prone to premature aging. If you’re finding that you’re suffering from this uncomfortably tight feeling after shaving, perhaps an alcohol free aftershave or balm might be the answer. Neutrogena, for example, offers a great aftershave that fits the bill perfectly. Washing the face with cold water after your shave but before application will help close up the pores and cuts sufficiently in any case.

Stay Young

If the idea of avoiding the premature aging and tightness that comes with alcohol based aftershaves and actually slowing down the inevitable lines that come with aging appeals to you, then perhaps it might be an idea to avoid the lotion and balm area of post shaving treatments and try one of the many moisturizers for men that are on the market. These combine the benefits listed above, along with being perfect for men who do suffer from sensitive skin after shaving. The Nivea for Men range has both a “Rehydrating Moisturizer” and “Sensitive Moisturizer” which provide protection after shaving throughout the day, refreshes the skin, and also protects from UV rays if you’re working outdoors.

Worried about Smell?

The most important part of an aftershave for many of us, especially on a night out or special occasion, is the scent. This is a factor that can be lost if switching to a non-alcohol shaving balm or a moisturizer. If you’re looking for something to fill in the gap, take a look at the range of colognes or eau de toilettes stocked in your local pharmacy, and take your pick.

Keanes Pharmacy

New alternative treatment for menopause available in Market Point

We've been recently asked for Ladycare Menopause a lot by our customers recently after a lot of coverage in magazines and TV recently.

These are now instock in Market Point for €29.99.

LadyCare is a small powerful, medical Medical Device that simply attaches discreetly and comfortably to your underwear. LadyCare is a novel, safe, drug free product designed to help reduce the symptoms of menopause.

Most women are familiar with the burden of period pains and other symptoms related to their monthly cycle. However, when the first symptoms of the menopause start to appear, they can bring with them many side-effects that are both at the very least extremely uncomfortable for us, but can even be visible to others, such as hot flushes, hair thinning and weight gain.

Often the only remedy or treatment offered by clinicians to help regulate our body and offer some relief of the symptoms during this change; is HRT. Unfortunately the menopause can last five or even six years and therefore the thought of taking medication for such a prolonged period of time, when the HRT side-effects are so well known. It is extremely off putting for most women and a viable alternative was needed. The Ladycare Menopause Medical Device was devised for this purpose to help women with effective and natural relief from the symptoms of the menopause.

The Ladycare Medical Device is simple to use and an incredibly discrete product – it is non-invasive, drug free and totally natural, it attaches to your underwear over the pelvis area.

©Keanes Pharmacy