McDaid Chemists are part and parcel of everyday life in County Cavan, providing a professional and friendly service and ensuring that the locals are in optimum health. The convenient and accessible chain of pharmacies is also a great friend to the GAA, supporting clubs and competitions in the communities they serve so professionally, whilst also providing clubs and individuals with a range of valuable products. Brothers Martin and Michael McDaid established McDaid Chemists in 2000, when the flagship store was opened on Lisnaskea's Main Street. Within a short space of time, the chain has grown to currently include five outlets - three in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland. The second pharmacy threw open its doors to the public in Kilnaleck, County Cavan in 2001, with further dispensaries added in Roslea, Cavan town (Connolly's) and Clones (Clones Pharmacy). All five of these community pharmacies look after the everyday medicinal and health needs of the residents in a close-knit border area that straddles counties Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh. At present, the buoyant business provides gainful employment to a staff of 28, which makes it a significant employer in these uncertain economic times. Co-founder Martin McDaid - himself a former Newtownbutler and Fermanagh footballer - admits that there are no great plans afoot for global domination or anything like that. Rather than following a masterplan, McDaid's have simply been on hand to avail of openings and opportunities that have arisen. When asked what has been the secret of their success thus far and what the business strategy has been, he modestly notes: "We've just been lucky. We've been in the right place at the right time. We didn't necessarily intend to open up in five locations, but the openings were there and we felt confident we had the experience and professionalism to fill those niches and provide a top-quality service." That word - service - is very important in the McDaid's modus operandi. Quality service permeates the business and is at the very core of their being, ensuring that customers have peace of mind and total reassurance at all times. Customers are treated with the utmost respect at all times and every individual who walks through the doors can call on the advice and total expertise of personable, knowledgeable and highly-trained staff. "We pride ourselves on service," Martin confirms. "We cater for the entire community and we provide a highly personalised service." How has the role of the chemist changed in today's society? "We are more accessible than ever before. And we are all professionally qualified people with professional medical knowledge. The level of accessibility and the increased professional expertise are two significant developments." McDaid Chemists epitomise this new breed of professional, community-based pharmacy with a keen emphasis on personal care. With time and care taken to provide the right solution every time, customer confidence is high. A wide range of customers is catered for - not just the sick or injured. "As well as medicines, we also stock health products and vitamins as well as treatments for minor ailments such as coughs or colds and cosmetic items such as shampoos, creams and sprays etc.," explains Martin. Treatments for sports injuries are also available either to clubs and/or athletes. McDaid Chemists is a very community-conscious enterprise and, to this end, has provided generous support and sponsorship to many local bodies and initiatives, including GAA clubs and events. For example, they sponsored the U16 Division Two football league in Fermanagh last year, while many clubs in Cavan have also benefited from their patronage in the recent past. "In any of the towns we're involved in, we try to support the local clubs through sponsorship or some other form of support," Martin confirms. "In Kilnaleck, we've sponsored the local Crosserlough club, but we've also supported the likes of Lacken and Ballymachugh. "We support all the communities. In Lisnaskea, we sponsored the local club as well as the Fermanagh U16 league. We've also done a bit for Roslea and for St Patrick's, Donagh, the current Fermanagh senior football champions." Though the support is a goodwill gesture first and foremost, there is a slight feedback, as Martin McDaid reveals: "The clubs we support tend to give us a bit of custom in return. They'd come in and avail of a range of services which are of use to football teams, including support bandages, deep heats, creams, sprays and First Aid equipment." The GAA is very close to Martin's heart. A former playing member of the First Fermanaghs club in Newtownbutler, he collected a senior football championship medal in 1988. He also represented the Erne County at all levels in gaelic football and had the distinction of captaining Fermanagh at both minor and under 21 grades. He continues to follow the fortunes of his native county but is also keenly interested in how the Breffni County will fare under the guidance of new manager Tommy Carr in 2009. Many people are citing Cavan as a possible dark horse in Ulster this year and there's guaranteed to be plenty of banter to that effect in and around the locality. Michael is also heavily involved in the GAA and is also a championship medal holder. He still lines out for First Fermanagh's as the club aims to bring more championship success back to Newtownbutler. Michael is based in Lisnaskea in McDaid Chemists flagship store. Whatever happens on the playing pitches of Fermanagh, Cavan and beyond, McDaid Chemists will continue to offer its customers a reliable and personal community-based service. Tweet

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