O’Toole’s Centra in Tullow is celebrating 50 years in business in 2026 and recently marked the milestone by being named ‘High Convenience – Store of the Year’ at the Pride of Centra Awards 2025.
Founded in 1976 and firmly established as a leading convenience store and service station in the region, the 50th anniversary celebrations started early for the family-run business when it scooped the prestigious accolade at the awards gala held at the Round Room in the Mansion House, Dublin. The event celebrated retail excellence across Centra’s 500-store network nationwide, with 15 finalists competing for top honours.
Congratulating the winners, Centra managing director Luke Hanlon said: “The winning teams set the benchmark for convenience retail in Ireland, showing how independent stores can make a powerful national impact.
“This recognition is a true mark of excellence within our industry – well done to all involved.”
Centra sales director Cormac Dawson added: “The Pride of Centra awards highlight the remarkable dedication and innovation shown by both stores.
“It’s a celebration of passion, creativity and going the extra mile every day. Their focus on quality, service, and community sets them apart and showcases the very best of Centra nationwide.”
Part of the fabric of Tullow for half a century and a member of the Centra family since 2018, O’Toole’s Centra was delighted with its success which came on the back of a major store revamp in 2021. The €1.2 million investment saw the shop increase from 800 sq. ft. to 3,500 sq. ft. in size. The Co. Carlow premises also incorporates a Circle K service station.
“We’re thrilled to win ‘High Convenience – Store of the Year’. It’s our first award since we became a Centra store and it’s all down to our amazing team,” store owner and manager Joe O’Toole enthuses.
“In retail, there are lots of ups and downs, great days when everything goes right, days when loads of things go wrong, and times when we get things right and very wrong. But each and every day, our whole team strives to provide the best possible service and maintain the store to the highest standards.
“We couldn’t be any prouder of this achievement and everyone who has helped our family business get to this point. Thanks to all our staff past and present, customers and suppliers, and the support from Centra Ireland. It’s great to see all the hard work pay off.”
Strategically located on the Bunclody Road in Tullow, O’Toole’s Centra began life as a farm machinery garage in 1976 under the direction of Joe’s parents, Joe Snr and Deirdre. Fuel pumps were added two years later before it became one of the first forecourts outside of the large towns and cities to add a full convenience store to their Jet filling station in 1992. The Jet brand was replaced by Statoil and then Topaz before finally transitioning to Circle K.
The shop became part of the Centra network in late 2018, but a planned revamp at the time was delayed by two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Joining Centra was a game-changer for us. We knew the potential was there to grow under the brand. As it turned out, the shop’s turnover has doubled and there was a modest increase in the forecourt. Tullow is a great business town with lots of employment. We get great support from all the locals,” Joe explains.
“The revamp in 2021 included the addition of a new hot food deli counter, off-licence, seating area and customer toilets. It’s a well-kept shop with a great reputation for Moo’d ice-cream and Frank & Honest coffee! There’s always a great atmosphere here. There are lots of quirky elements that have added to the shop’s personality.”
More recently, O’Toole’s Centra underscored its commitment to sustainability by installing a solar PV system which has seen it secure approximately 36,503 units of electricity per year, thereby greatly reducing its energy consumption.
The store’s mission is to provide customers with the best quality and prices as well as a friendly and enjoyable shopping experience. O’Toole’s Centra is bright, spacious, well laid-out and easy to shop in, and places a strong emphasis on fresh foods from local producers where possible. It also has a large selection of specialty foods and stocks a wide variety of wines and beers in its off-licence from local, national and international producers. Furthermore, the store combines the best of Centra’s own grocery brands with the leading brands.
“It’s a real team effort. Our people are our greatest asset and we’d be nothing without them or our customers who support us on a daily basis,” the affable Carlow man adds.
“We employ 20 people, our deli is led by Chris Coyne, we have Etta Lacey who is with us over 35 years along with other long serving staff members Jackie, Amie, Zoe, Frank and Ohrin. We’re lucky to have such loyal staff who take immense pride in their work and enjoy a great rapport with the customers. While I look after the day-to-day running of the store, I’m supported by my parents Joe and Deirdre, sister Yvonne and brothers John and Shay. My wife Aíne is the emotional support in the background, and we have three-year-old twin daughters, Ciara and Emily, so there’s never a dull moment!”
O’Toole’s Centra is proud to be part of Ireland’s leading convenience retail group serving over 3.5 million customers per week. At the heart of the communities in which it operates, Centra has sponsored the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship since 2010 and also supports countless local sporting and community groups across the country. Centra is part of Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, the retail franchise division of Musgrave Group, which is one of Ireland’s largest grocery and food distributors.
“We do a lot of sponsorship for local charities and sports clubs such as St Patrick’s GAA and Tullow RFC. It’s our way of giving something back to the community we proudly serve,” Joe concludes.
Opening hours in Tullow are 7am to 10pm Monday-Saturday and 8am to 10pm on Sundays.
Here’s to the next 50 years of this thriving family business!
O’Toole’s Centra Circle K
Tullowbeg,
Tullow,
Co. Carlow,
R93 C4EO.
Telephone: 059 915 1109
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 5 No 1, Spring 2026
featured, O’Toole’s Centra Circle K
