'Delivering the very best ': Longford retailers named as Gala Award winners

THREE County Longford Gala Retail stores were recognised at Gala Retail’s 2026 annual conference, with two stores receiving Gala Excellence Awards and a third picking up two category awards.

The County Longford stores recognised with Gala Excellence Awards were Corrigan's Gala, Moyne; Fox's Gala, Ballinalee and Hanlon's Gala, Longford.

Hanlon's Gala also enjoyed a successful night, taking home the awards for Best Off-Licence and Coffee Junction, as well as being named a finalist in the Brand Champion category. The wins follow recent investment in the store, including the addition of a new state-of-the-art Distill off-licence and the retail group's first in-store Coffee Junction cafe.

Corrigan's Gala also received recognition on the night, being named a finalist in the Customer Service category.

Held at the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, the annual Gala Retail conference brought together retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and partners from across Ireland to celebrate another successful year for the Group and look ahead to Gala’s plans for continued growth in 2027.

The Gala Excellence Awards are presented to stores that are deemed ‘outstanding’ following a comprehensive and independent assessment process, recognising retailers that demonstrate consistently high standards across their stores and deliver excellence in convenience retailing.

The 2026 Gala Retail conference featured a supplier trade show and a morning session with speakers Paul McNeive and Ken Hughes. The celebrations continued into the evening with Gala’s awards event, hosted by sports broadcaster Jacqui Hurley and featuring Anthony Daly and Niall Quinn.

Speaking following the awards, Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, congratulated the winners: “As one of Ireland’s leading convenience retailers, with over 220 group stores nationwide, we are incredibly proud to celebrate the remarkable individuals and teams who bring Gala to life, every day in every community.

“Our retailers are at the heart of the Gala brand. They know their customers, understand their communities and continually invest in delivering the high standards, quality and service that shoppers expect. These awards are about recognising the people behind our stores and the commitment they show every day to delivering the very best for their customers and communities.

“I’m delighted to see our Longford retailers recognised among the best in the Gala Group and would like to congratulate each of this year’s winners on a fantastic achievement.”

The conference also provided an opportunity for Gala Retail to outline the Group’s continued development, following another year of investment by Gala retailers in new stores, refurbishments, technology, fresh food offerings and the roll-out of retail concepts.

At the conference, Gala unveiled its ‘Fresh Approach for Gala’, which will place fresh food, quality coffee, hot food, bakery and specialist convenience concepts at the centre of the Group’s plans for 2027.