Falls Pharmacy in Cookstown marks momentous 60 year anniversary

DECEMBER marked a very special occasion for the Falls family in Cookstown as they celebrated 60 years in business.

Malachy and Therese Falls first opened the doors to their pharmacy in December 1963 at the original premises on Molesworth Street.

After a dedicated and fruitful 19 years serving the community, they then relocated to the current premises on William Street in 1982.

Following Malachy’s well-earned retirement in 2005, his son, Niall, alongside his wife, Karen, took over the reins of the pharmacy.

Having catered to the local community for the last 60 years, the Falls family and staff say they are looking forward to continuing the much-loved local family business for many years to come.

“We are delighted to announce that Falls Pharmacy has reached this very special milestone – celebrating 60 years of caring for the local community,” a statement from the family said.

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to all our customers and patients over the years for their unwavering support of our family business.

“We are also deeply-appreciative of our loyal and dedicated staff, both current and past, who have all been an integral part of our pharmacy’s longevity.”

To celebrate the momentous occasion, Falls Pharmacy held a special celebration event day with raffle prizes, special offers and free samples for those in attendance.

MEMORIES

Speaking to the TyroneHerald this week, Niall Falls recalled his memories of growing up around such an important hub of the community and how he came to take over his parents’ thriving business in the heart of Cookstown.

The 50-year-old pharmacist talked about the importance of offering reliable customer service.

“I studied ‘Pharmacy’ in Brighton in England from 1992 to 1995 before moving back to Cookstown in 1998, and working alongside my dad for about seven years,” he explained.

“When I was younger, I had previously considered other avenues, such as architecture, but, as the youngest sibling in the family, and with three older sisters who had went down different career paths, I took it on.”

Niall also recalled working around the pharmacy during the summer holidays when he was at school and university.

He said, “My parents opened the pharmacy in 1963, and I was born in 1973, so it’s always been there.

“As a small child, I would be in- and-around the place a few times a week, and, as I got older, I would take on shifts there during the summer when I was off school or university.”

He continued, “With the pharmacy always being a big part of my life, it seems you just fall into the way of things…

“It’s been a pleasure to carry on such a thriving business, and carry on what my parents have started.”

A father himself, Niall has four children – Jessica, Conor, Andrea and Rebecca – and he remarked that it looks as though the pharmacy could carry on into a third generation of the family.

He said, “My oldest daughter, Jessica, is currently studying ‘Pharmacy’, so it’s exciting to think about the potential of the business carrying on into a third generation.

“As a family business, you get to know the local people. Much like us as a family, we have also seen three, maybe four generations of families in our time coming in regularly as customers, which is very rewarding and lets us know that we’re offering a good service to the community.”

Looking forward to another 60 years in business, Niall said that they wouldn’t be anywhere without good customers and excellent staff.

“As a local family business, great service and a positive atmosphere for our staff and customers is key,” he said.

“We have three members of staff who have been with us for more than 40 years, and another five staff members who are now here for over 20 years, so we are truly thriving.

“We have a duty of care to look after people, and our staff get a great buzz from it, and find it rewarding.

“We all enjoy what we do, and many of our customers are just as much part of the family after all these years, and they can always rely on good service from a local family business.

“We have many familiar faces who will even just call in for a chat after all these years, and as one of very few family-run independent businesses remaining in Cookstown, we strive to serve our customers on a cross-community basis, as we always have.”