Mayo man sells company in major deal

COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (FEBRUARY 24 EDITION)

Claremorris native Gerard Cassidy has seen the company he founded, TouchStore, acquired by Irish pharmaceutical group Uniphar in a major deal for the pharmacy sector.

Cassidy, who was born and educated in Claremorris, comes from a family long associated with the pharmacy business in south Mayo. His parents, Colm and Kathleen Cassidy, operated chemist shops in Claremorris and Ballindine before expanding to Shannon, Limerick and Ennis. He has often credited those early years in Claremorris with shaping his understanding of community pharmacy.

After running several successful pharmacies, later sold to Boots and McCabes, Gerard founded TouchStore in 2001. Based in Limerick, the company has grown to become Ireland’s fastest-growing provider of pharmacy and retail management software, now serving more than 700 customers nationwide.

Gerard maintains close ties to Claremorris, where his family remains deeply connected to the town and to Mayo GAA.