Carroll’s Centra in Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny celebrated its 30th anniversary in style by being named ‘Off Licence Neighbourhood of the Year’ at the Pride of Centra Awards 2025.
Established in 1996, the family-run business was thrilled to receive the prestigious accolade at the awards gala held in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin last November. The event celebrated retail excellence and exceptional talent across Centra’s 500-store network nationwide, with 15 finalists competing for top honours. Awards were presented across key categories, including People, Excellence, Food Safety and the highly-coveted Store of the Year.
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 our winning 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.”
Carroll’s Centra is a well-known convenience store and filling station located in the South Kilkenny village of Knocktopher. It is operated by the Carroll family who have been part of the local business community for almost 150 years.
“We were delighted to win the Pride of Centra Award. It’s great recognition for our off-licence manager Michael Grace and his team, and for everyone here at Carroll’s Centra. It was also a lovely way to get our 30th anniversary celebrations started,” owner Padraic Carroll enthuses.
“Our off-licence offers a good range and breadth of wines and special occasion wines. We also have an extensive range of beers and non-alcoholic beers which means we have something for everyone. Michael is passionate about the off-licence. He has grown it and is fully deserving of this award.
“We’re committed to delivering great service to the heart of our community, and to evolving and growing our offering to enhance the customer experience.”
Padraic had worked as an accountant before returning to the family business whose 30-strong team includes his sister Brena, mother Mary, store manager Matthew Murphy and assistant manager Shaun Foley.
“My great-grandfather Patrick Carroll had a shop on a different site in Knocktopher going back to the 1880s,” Padraic reveals.
“We opened this premises in 1996 as a small grocery shop and a Burmah filling station. We also opened a hotel nearby three years later. I came back into the business around that time and eventually took over the running of the shop from my father Billy in 2011. We have been part of the Centra network since 1998. The shop is complemented by a Top Oil forecourt, which replaced Burmah many years ago.
“The store has had three makeovers in 2008, 2012 and 2021, which was the biggest. Our growth has been driven by our excellent location, giving our customers exactly what they want and the fact that we’re now the only shop in the village and surrounding area.
“We’re only 1km from the M9, a five-minute drive from Callan, a 10-minute drive from Thomastown and Kilkenny, and a 15-minute drive from Waterford. So we’re easily accessible to and from the motorway as well as to a large hinterland.”
The 2021 revamp completely transformed the look and feel of Carroll’s Centra. It doubled the store’s size from 3,000 sq. ft. to 6,000 sq. ft. and saw the addition of larger and clearly-defined display areas, seating area, customer toilets, improved staff facilities and the award-winning off-licence. The significant investment also saw the construction of a new canopy over the fuel pumps and alterations to the layout of the fuel pumps and islands.
“We’ve added a lot over the years, including newsagents, lotto, deli, grocery aisles, chilled section, coffee station and a fresh food area. The more you can offer, the more you can give your customer. We have everything from freshly prepared dinner options, food on-the-go, Frank & Honest coffee and Moo’d ice-cream to Caramico Pizza and Donnybrook Fair.”
The store’s mission is to provide customers with the best quality and prices as well as a friendly and enjoyable shopping experience, and places a strong emphasis on fresh foods from local producers where possible. Furthermore, the store combines the best of Centra’s own grocery brands with the leading brands.
Carroll’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 (which Kilkenny have won a record 36 times!) 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. It’s our way of giving something back to the community we proudly serve.”
Padraic concludes by thanking his staff and customers for their unwavering support.
“We have a great team, but we’d be nothing without our customers who support us on a daily basis. Their feedback is very important to us.”
Opening hours in Knocktopher are 7am to 10pm Monday-Saturday and 7.30am to 9pm on Sundays.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
Carroll’s Centra
Whitescastle Lower,
Knocktopher,
Co. Kilkenny,
R95 Y6FX.
Telephone: 056 776 8629
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 5 No 2, Summer 2026
