Balally Pharmacy

Balally Pharmacy Independent family run pharmacy located in Sandyford Dublin 16. Tom McKenna is the Pharmacist owner since 2014.

We have a wonderful highly qualified team instore. I have over 30 years experience and I’m a dad of four. Vaccine Information: email vaccines@balallypharmacy.ie

✨Cervical Cancer Awareness week is this week. How better to add to my weekly ‘prevention is better than cure’ series “Th...
28/01/2026

✨Cervical Cancer Awareness week is this week. How better to add to my weekly ‘prevention is better than cure’ series “The Wellness Prescription “ than highlighting a cancer that we can prevent and treat very effectively right now.

The WHO and health authorities worldwide aim to eliminate this cancer by 2040 🙏

How can we prevent and eradicate this deadly cancer right now?
👉Vaccinate with the 🆓 HPV vaccine. Both girls and boys before they are sexually active. In Ireland this is a free school vaccination programme and catch up clinics are available.
👉Register and attend your 🆓 cervical screening appointments when invited to attend. Every 3 years if aged 25-29 and every 5 years if aged 30-65.
👉Attend any follow up 🆓 appointments that may be necessary after screening.

It really is that simple.

💪Both boys and girls need to be vaccinated to eradicate HPV which is responsible for 99% of cervical cancer diagnoses. But the vaccine also prevents other cancers like oral, vulval, vaginal, pe**le and a**l cancers. in both men and women so it’s a win win.

🩷A cervical screening appointment (formally known as a smear test) is quick, painless and free. A little awkward for you maybe but it’s a life saver. Available from your GP so keeping it local and accessible.

🙋‍♀️ The question I get asked all the time is “Is the HPV vaccine safe”? The answer is YES. Years of extensive evidence based research across all populations confirm this.
Safe enough as a pharmacist and dad of 4 that my own family were vaccinated.

My wife sadly received a cervical cancer diagnosis in the past so it’s an issue close to my heart. With regular screenings and very effective treatment I’m relieved to say she is alive and well 🩷🙏

If you want my 🆓 e-book on cervical cancer prevention just comment CERVICAL and I’ll DM it to you.

What are your thoughts on preventing HPV, the virus responsible for causing 99% of all cervical cancers? Let me know in the comments.

Tom

⚠️ As always this is for general advice and information only. Always seek advice from your own doctor specifically for you

26/01/2026

As a pharmacist, we have to have this chat ladies. I’m here to debunk the myth that creatine is just for gym bros and bunnies. Creatine isn’t about getting bulky.

It’s about strength and energy. Your muscles 💪 your bones 🦴 and quite possibly your brain too 🧠
In perimenopausal and menopausal women, small but solid trials show
• Increased brain creatine
• Faster reaction time
• Improved processing speed
We still need much bigger quality research to confirm this but the results are promising for reducing brain fog and increasing concentration as oestrogen declines.

✅ Do we need bigger trials exclusively on women? Absolutely.
Is the existing evidence strong enough to say “this may help some women age better”? Yes.

💪 In ageing muscle, creatine PLUS resistance training helps
• Preserve strength
• Maintain power
• Reduce frailty risk and possible fractures by building bone density.
• Maintain independence long term

💪Without resistance training 2-3 times per week, creatine on its own won’t do much for your bones or muscles.

💚This matters because after menopause women lose muscle and brain energy faster than men.
That’s not vanity. That’s independence long after menopause.

👉I advise you to get professional advice from a chartered physiotherapist to work on your technique and find the right resistance strengthening for YOU! This way you stay safe and consistent long term.

👉Creatine isn’t compulsory.
But it’s no longer just a gym supplement either.

Comment “CREATINE” if you want me to send you my free Pharmacist e-book sent to your DMs covering
• who should avoid creatine
• recommended dose
• brain vs muscle and bone benefits
• blood test results

If you found this helpful just give me a follow for regular no nonsense evidence based opinions on medicines and supplements 🙏

Share the news with your perimenopausal and menopausal friends. This could be a game changer denied to older generations of women 🙌

Tom

Remember this is for general educational purposes only. Always consult your own doctor and pharmacist for advice relevant to you. .

24/01/2026

✨Our highlight Q&A question of the week is the much asked question “what supplements or vitamins should I take?”
💚Every Thursday night on stories I answer your questions regarding medicines and healthcare.

👉No nonsense answers from a pharmacist of 34 years and dad of 4. You can’t frighten me! I’ve seen it all and I want to share my experience with you. No hard sell.

🙋‍♀️ Supplements are being flogged EVERYWHERE online. The noise is loud. Do you need them? Are you missing out by not investing?

The answer is most likely you don’t need them! You get everything you need from a balanced diet. Your body can generally make everything you need if you fuel it with home cooked meals.

When this isn’t possible and you guess you might be lacking in something firstly ask for professional advice 🙏
👉 your GP possibly blood tests
👉your pharmacist - self medicating is dangerous especially if you are on medication or you want a “natural “ product.
👉 if you need advice on the correct foods to deliver the correct daily dosage of vitamins then consult with a registered dietitian.

Food is medicine 💊 🌽 🥩 🐟 🥬

🛑 So stop wasting your money on expensive urine and possibly kidney damage overworking. Ask for the professional help available. Eat good food first. Stop lining the pockets of unethical marketing wizards making you think you’re deficient in everything.

🙏Let me know in the comments if this sounds like you. Let’s spread some awareness on the multibillion industry of vitamin promotion when it may not be necessary

If you want more straight talking no waffle pharmacist advice just follow for more🙏

Share this with a friend who takes more vitamins than good food 🍱

Tom

This is for education guidance only and does not replace the personal advice given by your doctor or healthcare professional

This week’s edition view of “The Wellness Prescription” ✨. I focused this week on a condition I see every day in my phar...
21/01/2026

This week’s edition view of “The Wellness Prescription” ✨. I focused this week on a condition I see every day in my pharmacy. Heart Health ❤️❤️❤️
👉This is my series focusing on prevention is always better than cure and the pharmacist advice I give is evidence backed with solid research.

Heart disease sounds scary and it is! But there is SO much we can do to make a big difference and enjoy living as long and as healthily as possible.

Sadly I see far too many patients with well established heart disease requiring significant medication and lifestyle limitations. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The sooner you adopt lifestyle changes the sooner your risk profile lowers. Ideally in your 20s and 30s. But it’s never too late!

In this edition of “The Wellness Prescription” I start with the building blocks of foundations of good heart health. It’s not trendy or cool. It’s the basics that not just support good heart health but all of your body too 💪

👉we look at how sleep, nutrition, exercise and stress reduction all play vital roles in keeping your heart and vascular system strong and healthy.
👉we look at the factors we all want to ignore but are essential in maximising your health - weight, blood pressure, cholesterol management and quitting smoking 🚬
👉I show you how you can get support towards better heart health from the pharmacy from advice to supplement supports when required.

Follow for more heart health issues from a trusted source. No nonsense. No fads.

Do you know a friend who could do with a nudge to protect their heart health?

Let me know in the comments if you worry about heart health? Have you struggled to get started? Would you like more heart health information in future posts?

Comment HEART and I’ll send you my free checklist on getting started with better heart health.

Be sure to check out for lots of free invaluable advice 🙏

Tom

⚠️ This is just for general information and education. No personal medical advice. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist with any personalised concerns.

19/01/2026

Today is known as Blue Monday😢💙.
But it’s just another wet Monday in January. Laughter is still the best medicine so I hope that you can see we have a lot of laughs in the pharmacy during the year!
We hope you get a giggle out of these clips too!

😢In community pharmacy we deal every day with some very harrowing and upsetting cases from the cradle to the grave. Having a laugh and a bit of craic with each other and with you helps us get through some tough days.

So turn that frown upside down and giggle along with us today on Blue Monday😜🤣

Tom and all the A team 💚


Launching The Common Conditions Service at Balally Pharmacy today is a major landmark in my 34 year Pharmacy career 🙌I h...
19/01/2026

Launching The Common Conditions Service at Balally Pharmacy today is a major landmark in my 34 year Pharmacy career 🙌

I have campaigned for this service for over 20 years for pharmacists as experts in medicines.

This service is held to international standards and supported by the HSE and Department of Health. It is truly fantastic for us all to be able to access high quality healthcare in a familiar pharmacy setting for uncomplicated common conditions.

We as pharmacists will follow the same care pathways as your GP and advise you safely. If your condition is assessed as more complicated then we will refer you to your doctor or hospital.

I am delighted to be able to look after patients new and familiar and helping to free up GP surgeries for more complicated and complex issues.

For now we offer the service on a walk in basis costing €30. Any prescription medication that may be prescribed will be covered by the usual HSE schemes like the medical card or DPS scheme.

The Common Conditions Service does not replace the typical pharmacy service of advising on over the counter medications and advice which is free.

Please feel free to pop in to ask our advice on any aspect of the scheme 💚

What do you think of the introduction in Ireland of the Common Conditions Service? I’m really interested in your thoughts so let me know in the comments please 🙏

Tom

17/01/2026

⭐️ Highlight of the week Q&A from my weekly session on exclusivity for my followers on stories every Thursday.

HRT and perimenopause was a very frequently asked question this week.

With so much noise online about perimenopause and menopause it can be very challenging to understand the symptoms and when to consider talking with your doctor.

🙏 All the evidence shows that the sooner you detect symptoms of perimenopause the sooner you should look at your HRT options.

🧐Why would any woman allow the frequently inevitable discomfort of perimenopause build up and endure for much longer than is necessary? Affecting every aspect of a woman’s every day life?

👉But to make an informed decision you need to know that HRT has powerful benefits for your longterm health into old age denied to many older women in the past.

Commonly occurring long term illnesses that require substantial medical interventions like osteoporosis or heart failure 😢

Like all healthcare, early intervention prevents or minimises long term complications.

Remember not every woman is suitable for HRT so have the chat with your doctor to assess your risks v benefits sooner than later.

Were you aware of the longterm benefits of HRT? Let me know in the comments.

Share this with a friend who may not be aware so we can spread the good news 🙏

Tom

⚠️Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to you. This post is for general educational purposes only. Be sure to read the patient information leaflet that are dispensed with your medication.

Address

Sandyford Shopping Centre, Blackthorn Drive Sandyford D16V2P 5
Dublin
D16V2P5

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 7pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 7pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 7pm
Thursday 8:30am - 7pm
Friday 8:30am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+35312954084

Website

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