Ray McSharry, with over 30 years’ experience as a managing pharmacist. He principally
manages the dispensary side of the business, as well as risk and compliance management.
He is dedicated to the industry and has previously served on the board of United Drug,
Retail Excellence and the Irish Pharmacy Union, which is a testament to his calibre in the
industry.
Ray McSharry studied Pharmacy at Trinity College, Dublin. He always had a keen interest in
football, water sports, cycling and running, and he completed the Dublin and New York
marathons, amongst others.
In 1992, Ray started his first Pharmacist role in Coleman’s Pharmacy, Athlone, which he
purchased after three years. Within another three years, he had opened another two stores,
in Donegal and Athlone. The next store was opened in Castlerea Primary Care Centre, after
which he purchased three stores in Galway City and then opened two new Galway based
stores.
The group now comprises of 10 Stores, Galway Stores Knocknacarra, Westside, Terryland,
The Crescent, Athenry, Claregalway, Tuam, 2 in Athlone located in Golden Island and
Mardyke St and one store in Castlerea.
Ray is now the Superintendent Pharmacist and Managing Director of his ten pharmacies.
In 2013 Ray completed a 2-year Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion in NUI Galway,
which he applies to developing and providing health promotion services to his customers,
such as a prediabetes screening service, cardiovascular health awareness and smoking
cessation.
Ray is a member of the IPU Pharmacy Contractors Committee since 2013 and uses this
platform to advocate on behalf of community pharmacy contractors with government
agencies to ensure fair remuneration for pharmacy services.
Ray also worked part-time as a lecturer to 3rd-year Bachelor of Science Pharmacy
Technician students in Athlone Institute of Technology.
Ray and the McSharry’s Group ethos is to provide the highest quality customer service to
the community through highly skilled healthcare teams. The group has a strong local brand
in the region, and the pharmacies are at the heart of their communities and provide a
valued dispensing service, patient advice and an evolving product range.