McQuaids Pharmacy opens in new premises, following December arson attack
McQuaids Pharmacy in Oldcastle, which was gutted in an arson attack last December, is opening a brand new premises on Friday.
Donna McQuaid had been operating from a temporary premises in the old Gibney's building, following the fire, but is now opening in a new premises next door to the shop that was destroyed last year.
The arson attack, which occurred just days before Christmas, was roundly condemned locally as a cowardly act and saw the local community rally round to support Ms McQuaid.
Local shops and residents showed their support for the pharmacist and their disgust at the attack, by displaying posters depicting a heart and the name Donna in premises throughout the town.
In an amazing show of solidarity, the community rallied round to help her set up in the former Gibney's premise, and she was able to open in time for Christmas.
"The local community were very good to us. We were overwhelmed by their support," Ms McQuaid said.
She explained that the original premises was completely gutted but her husband owned the premises next door and over a three month period they refurbished it to open as a pharmacy.
The new state of the art premises will now open on Good Friday, 110 years after it first opened as a drapers shop.
"A drapery opened here at Easter 1916, and 110 years later we are opening our pharmacy," she said.
Cllr Peter Caffrey said it was great news. "I am delighted to see Donna opening up in her new premises after the trauma of last year. I wish her well in her new premises.
"A great effort was put in to get the new premises ready and it will be a great asset to the town," he said.
The arson attack drew huge criticism across the community and the county. Earlier last year the hotel adjacent to the original pharmacy had been the subject of a Section Five application to allow its use as an IPAS Centre.
However in October, the owners said that application had been withdrawn and there were plans to re-open the building as a hotel.