ONE of south Derry's longest established pharmacies O’Brien’s, which has been operating in Magherafelt for more than a century,has reopened following a major refurbishment and a change of ownership.
Brothers and pharmacists John and Niall O’Brien, who also own a pharmacy in nearby Coagh, took ownership of the family business with support from First Trust Bank.
And as part of their expansion programme, the brothers have made a substantial investment in both locations which has enabled the business to double the size of its workforce in less than a year. It now employs 24 staff including five pharmacists.
John O’Brien said: “At one point in the 90s O’Brien’s was trading from a portacabin after an explosion wreaked havoc through the town, so the fact that we're still serving the people of Magherafelt and now expanding the business makes this investment an even more significant."
First Trust Bank acquisitions manager Dominic O’Neill added: “John, Niall and the team at O’Brien’s are committed to putting accessible and professional healthcare at the heart of the community.
"Their ongoing success is down to their dedication to supporting local people through services such as prescription collection and delivery, as well as products and items they might otherwise have to travel to obtain.
"This is a fantastic business success story, and we look forward to supporting their ambitions further as the business continues to grow.”
