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Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 6pm

Merlin Pharmacy

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Merlin Pharmacy

Merlin Pharmacy, Doughiska, Galway, was established in 2002 and is happily serving the community of Doughiska & its surroundings ever since.

We pride ourselves on the level of service we provide to our loyal customers and receive much positive feedback from them. Our staff love to go the extra mile, whether that be providing reassurance & advice on health complaints, sourcing difficult to find products, or just providing service with a smile. Doughiska is a unique, culturally diverse community with at least 33 different nationalities living in the area. As a result we stock some speciality African Haircare & Skincare ranges, and Eastern European Skincare & Bodycare products. The population of Doughiska is exceptionally young, with the estimated average age being 25 years. Many of our customers are families with young children. We have installed an IKC Play Module, imported from the Netherlands, to keep the kids occupied and happy, giving Mom or Dad time to shop,or ask for advice in peace. Customers waiting for their prescriptions to be filled can also relax and avail of our Homemedics massage chair, giving them a nice relaxing back massage while they wait. All of our business decisions and policies are made with the sole aim of enhancing the experience of our customers, and building on our long term relationships with the community we serve. Located in the Doughiska Retail Centre between Centra & Jack Jordans Take Away we are open Monday - Saturday 9am - 6pm.

25/12/2025

Happy Christmas from all of us at Merlin Pharmacy to all our patients, customers and above all our friends 🎄

22/12/2025

I recently completed an exciting project in partnership with University of Galway. I've just wrapped recording 13 bite-sized wellbeing videos, each one just 2 minutes long!

These short videos were created as an easy to access, practical resource for busy university staff who want to boost their wellbeing without needing to overhaul their entire schedule. Because one of my core beliefs is that wellbeing doesn’t need to be time consuming to be effective.

Each video focuses on small daily habits that make a big difference, from laughter to breathwork, kindness to exercise, there is a wide variety of research backed tools and techniques to cultivating wellbeing and resilience.

+ Quick to watch
+ Backed by science
+ Simple to apply
+ Created for real life daily challenges

Wellbeing isn’t about perfection, it’s about taking consistent small steps that help us feel good and function effectively, even on the busiest days.

Congrats to Kathy Hynes on this initiative to assist university staff in starting the day with just two minutes of science-backed inspiration and practical strategies they can actually use.

Such a novel step to make wellbeing accessible, engaging, and sustainable, because when individuals thrive, so too do entire workplace.

20/12/2025

CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS 🌲

Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Stephens Day: Closed
Saturday 27th December: 10am-5pm
Sunday 28th December: Closed
Monday 29th December: 9am -6pm
Tuesday 30th December: 9am- 6pm
New Years Eve: 9am- 5pm
New Years Day : Closed

🎅🧑‍🎄🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲

18/12/2025

From Surviving to Thriving: A Better Way to Navigate the Festive Season .

December can feel like a high speed sprint for community pharmacists, juggling patient care, supply issues, staff shortages, and the whirlwind of personal festive preparations. Too often, our own wellbeing is left on the sidelines until ‘the new year.’

In my latest article for the IPU Review, I explore a different way forward.

What if we could end the year well, not perfectly, but intentionally? Instead of overcommitting to unsustainable New Year’s resolutions, we can:

+ Shift from ‘to-do’ lists to ‘to-be’ lists
+ Start with how we want to feel in our work and lives
+ Focus on small, repeatable habits that support sustainable wellbeing

Wellbeing isn’t a luxury, but is the foundation for everything we do. A simple three breath pause, five minutes outside in fresh air, or one intentional act of connection can be enough to tip the scales from depleted to grounded.

As we head into 2026, perhaps the better question isn’t ‘What will I do?’ but ‘How do I want to be?’

Small steps. Big difference.

Read the full article , From Surviving to Thriving, in the December edition of the IPU Review by clicking this link https://ipu.ie/ipu-review-article/from-surviving-to-thriving-a-better-way-to-navigate-the-festive-season/

15/12/2025

‘I didn’t think I was interested in this stuff. I thought it didn’t really apply to me. I assumed it was all a little airy fairy... But now I have a completely different view.’

That was just one of the reflections shared today at the Shannon College of Hotel Management after a joyful wellbeing session with an incredible group.

When we began, there was a mix of nerves, uncertainty, and curiosity in the room. No one quite knew what to expect, or what would be ‘required’ of them. So, to set the tone we started with a lovely simple practice.

A 3 minute balloon exercise to acknowledge and release the tension. And just like that, the mood shifted. Laughter bubbled up. Shoulders dropped. Smiles appeared. Lightness returned. And the room came alive with energy, fun, and genuine engagement.

From there, we dropped into stillness, a grounding breath practice, a single word intention, inviting calm and presence into the room.

What followed was connection, curiosity, and some truly special moments. It wasn’t just the Christmas lights that lit up the room but

+ the spark of authentic human connection.
+ genuine gratitude.
+ the experience of presence and engagement.
+ finishing with a fun physical activation to elevate the energy and mood.

Everyone left feeling refreshed, grounded, and in great spirits, ready to step into the Christmas season with renewed energy and optimism.

For me, the session was a reminder that wellbeing isn't a theory, but a very real practice. It’s about real human experiences. Moments that shift mindsets. Small, powerful interventions that open the door to a deeper understanding of what it means to feel good and function effectively.

Thank you to everyone at the Shannon College of Hotel Management for the warm welcome and for showing up so openly.

09/12/2025

Same workshop, two worlds, one message.

Last week was one of the most fascinating weeks in my work in the wellbeing area.

On Tuesday I delivered my Emotional Regulation workshop to staff at the University of Galway. On Wednesday I delivered the exact same session to prisoners in the Irish Prison Service. Two completely different audiences, two entirely different environments, and here’s what struck me the most.

The message was entirely applicable to both groups. The stories, tools, and insights resonated across the board. To me this points to the fact that emotional regulation is an essential and universal human skill.

It’s not about where you are in life, it’s about how you show up day by day.

Whether you're managing a team in a busy workplace or managing life in confinement, the ability to notice, name, and navigate your emotions is transformative.

Studies show;
+ It builds resilience.
+ It fosters better relationships.
+ It helps us pause, choose, and respond, rather than react.

This experience reminded me of a truth I’ve seen again and again: Emotional regulation isn’t just a set of learnable skills, it’s a superpower, and everyone can benefit from it by creating inner awareness and agility.

06/12/2025

If you’re looking for something different for that special person check out these beautiful pamper boxes. ❤️ Boxes full of goodies for €25 while stocks last ! 🎄🎄

04/12/2025

Over the past three months, I had the privilege of delivering ‘The Fundamentals of Wellbeing – The Three P’s’, a science-backed series designed to equip staff with real world tools to feel good and function effectively, both at work and beyond.

Here’s a little glimpse into what we explored:

Month 1: Physical Health - Movement, Nutrition & Sleep
We began with the foundations. How we fuel, move, and rest our bodies profoundly affects our energy, focus, and mood. Together we looked at the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule and how it applies, and clarifies, what we need to do to optimise our physical health. 20% of our inputs will result in 80% of our results here, so clarity is key.

Month 2: People & Connection - People, Connection & Belonging
In month two, we turned our attention to our most powerful wellbeing resource of all, each other. We explored creating a Relationship Map to understand who lights us up, and who drains us when it comes to the breadth of our connections.
We looked at using Love Languages to foster appreciation in our deeper relationships and how spotting the Four Horsemen of communication (criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling) is a key skill in relationship maintenance and growth.

Month 3: Positive Emotions - Mood Mapping & Calm as a Strategy
We finished this week on an uplifting note, exploring the role of emotions in daily functioning.
We used a Mood Map to build emotional literacy and awareness, then created Mood Strategies to shift from low to high energy states, and from negative to positive states more intentionally. Critically we discussed the importance of prioritising calm, especially in high pressure environments, and as a key skill to boost resilience and wellbeing.

What stood out to me most across this series was the level of engagement, openness, and genuine interest shown by participants. These conversations matter. And it’s a pleasure to see a workplace truly invest in their people, not just as professionals, but as whole human beings.

A huge thank you to kathy Hynes Cassidy and University of Galway for their continued support and commitment to workplace wellbeing, and to all the staff who brought their insights, questions, humour and humanity to each session.

25/11/2025

I’ve just had to place a second print order for Your Wellbeing REVAMP, and I’m honestly blown away.

The response to the book has far exceeded what I imagined, and I’ve been genuinely touched by the kind messages, thoughtful feedback, and stories of how it’s resonating with readers. Thank you to everyone who’s supported it so far!

With the festive season fast approaching, Your Wellbeing REVAMP makes a meaningful Christmas gift, something a little different, that supports the wellbeing of the people you care about.

It’s also proving to be an ideal corporate gift for teams and workplaces looking to boost morale and start the new year on a positive, empowering note.

If you'd like to order copies for yourself, your team, or as gifts, you can grab them here: https://seamus.kartra.com/page/yourwellbeingrevampbook

Here’s to small habits, big impact, and thriving together.

21/11/2025

Sparks flew in my recent session with the team at Planet as we explored what it really means to feel good and function effectively at work.

This was no ‘sit back and listen’ kind of session, this was wellbeing in action.

+ We kicked things off with sparks flying to highlight the power of human connection. When people truly connect and engage, energy rises.

+ Then we tried our hand with a ‘target practice’ activity that revealed just how sticky our negativity bias can be, and how to override it.

+ Feather balancing got everyone moving, laughing, and finding flow, a powerful reminder that presence and play are essential to wellbeing.

+ And we finished with a breathwork practice to access calm, peace, and ease in just a few short minutes.

This session was all about experiencing the tools, not just hearing about them, because wellbeing isn’t something we talk about, it’s something we do.

Huge thanks to the Planet team for showing up with curiosity, energy, and openness, and for showing that wellbeing can be fun and informative!

Thanks to Amy Munnelly, ACA for the invite.

17/11/2025

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak to first ever cohort of pharmacy students at the University of Galway.

It was a meaningful moment for me, because I got to combine two areas I’ve spent my career immersed in, both pharmacy and wellbeing.

The session focused on something often overlooked in healthcare training, self-care, and how to look after ourselves when our career involves looking after others.

We explored:
Why self-care isn't selfish, but plays a foundational role in both the life of a student, and those whose careers see them perform in clinical roles.

How small habits like connecting with others, regular movement, staying present and grounded, and regulating our nervous system can protect energy and mindset.

We looked at the danger of waiting for ‘some time’ to prioritise wellbeing, which is a trap many professionals fall into. My key message was focused on the importance of building a realistic, sustainable approach to personal resilience from day one.

There’s a growing awareness that professional performance and personal wellbeing aren’t separate conversations. One directly impacts the other. Starting the conversation early, before burnout or overload, can make a real difference.

Thanks to Dr. Mary Hopkins and the team at University of Galway for the warm welcome, and to the students for their participation.

14/11/2025

Good news! We’re fully stocked and our Christmas Club is now open.
Take the pressure off the festive season—select your gifts early and pay in easy weekly instalments. ❤️🎄

Address

Doughiska, Merlin
Galway

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

091 764185

Website

http://www.merlinpharmacy.ie/

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