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06 Sept 2025
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Deirdre Butler, co-owner of Higgins Pharmacy, with their Gold Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Award alongside host of the Pharmacy Excellence Awards
A pharmacy owned by Mayo twins Deirdre and Ann Butler is celebrating after it took gold in the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Award at the Pharmacy Excellence Awards.
Sligo town-based Higgins Pharmacy received the award for its community outreach efforts, including its work with charities and volunteers who support international protection applicants in Sligo. The honour also recognises the team’s support for programmes to help new mothers and the pharmacy’s commitment to development and training.
The Butler sisters, who are from Ballina, own both the Higgins Pharmacy premises in Sligo, on Teeling Street and at Market Cross.
Another reason cited for their gold medal award was their relationship with Diversity, a charity that receives HSE funding for pharmaceutical products for residents of Globe House, an international protection centre in Sligo town.
Higgins Pharmacy has since developed a reputation as an understanding and compassionate place for international protection applicants with limited English to come in search of advice.
Award judges also took account of Higgins Pharmacy’s mentorship of a pharmacist qualified in her native Sudan who approached Deirdre hoping for a work placement to become registered in Ireland.
Higgins Pharmacy Co-owner Deirdre Butler says she was delighted that their efforts to instil a culture of empathy and compassion for staff and customers had been recognised.
“I’m delighted to collect the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Award on behalf of the team at Higgins Pharmacy. We have a reputation for care – regardless of your background, religion or ethnicity. Everyone needs our empathy and support and we go to great lengths to instil that culture of understanding in our team,” said Ms Butler.
“I take great pride in seeing the potential in people I employ. We have supported a number of employees’ progression to technician to qualified pharmacist and manager. This award is due recognition for those efforts and we look forward to celebrating this victory with our charity partners, volunteers, and team in the near future.”
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