Swords shortlisted for Retail Excellence Ireland’s Friendliest Town Award

​Swords has been shortlisted as a finalist in Retail Excellence Ireland’s Friendliest Town Award at its first attempt. Swords is among five towns shortlisted and the overall winner will be announced in Kilkenny on November 9.
Retail Excellence, the largest retail representative body in Ireland, run these prestigious awards on an annual basis. The awards are designed to drive the improvement of standards in retail operations and town centres throughout the country.
Seven Swords stores put themselves forward to have their customer service judged with aggregate scores being used to assess Swords against towns across the country. The stores in question were Peter Mark, 3 Store and Love Suits which are all on Main Street; Swords Eye Centre in The Plaza just off Main Street and Fields Jewellers, McCabe’s Pharmacy and XTI in the Pavilions Shopping Centre.
Four of the seven stores judged, Love Suits, 3 Store, Peter Mark and McCabe’s Pharmacy, have also been named in the list of the Top 100 Stores in Ireland and go forward in the competition to be named the Best Store in Ireland.
This application was submitted by Fingal County Council on behalf of the stores in Swords with the assistance of Ian Hunter, Centre Director, Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords.
Mayor of Fingal Mary McCamley said: “Swords is a vibrant town with a varied selection of retail stores to choose from. It is great that Swords has done so well at its first attempt and we await with anticipation the results of the overall competition.”
Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “Swords and Fingal continues to grow, with the retail sector playing a key part in the economic sustainability of the County. It is a great achievement for Swords to be shortlisted and is a testament to the customer service of all the retailers in the town of Swords, especially those who have participated in this competition.”
David Fitzsimons, CEO of Retail Excellence, said: “Ireland is renowned the world over for its warm welcome and hospitality to all. This is always particularly evident in retail operations throughout every village, town and city in the country and this is why it is important to mark the significant contribution being made by retailers and city and county councils in driving standards. “