T. O’Higgin’s Homevalue in Galway has been named the overall winner of the highly coveted Best Regional Store Connacht award at the recent ‘United in Excellence Awards’. Hardware and builders merchant stores from across Ireland were recognised for outstanding standards in retailing at United Hardware’s 6th annual awards ceremony, held at The Galmont Hotel, Galway.
The event brought together over 250 guests from across the United Hardware network, including store owners, managers, partners and sponsors.Ferdia Homevalue, Co. Louth claimed the top honour, United in Excellence Store of The Year 2025, standing out among more than 200 exceptional stores nationwide. The Ardee store was celebrated for its commitment to customer service, store standards, and community engagement, setting a new benchmark for excellence in the sector.Other Connacht winners included:
Sweeney’s Homevalue Achill – Best Customer Service Excellence in Connacht
Kean’s Homevalue – Best Paint Store in Connacht
Nicolas O’Conchubhair Homevalue – Best Light Hardware & DIY Store in Connacht
Cooney’s Homevalue – Best Merchanting Store in Connacht
T. O’Higgin’s Homevalue – Best Heating & Plumbing Store in Connacht
A highlight of the evening was the cheque presentation of over €60,000 to Barretstown, United Hardware’s national charity partner, supporting life-changing programmes for children and families affected by serious illness.
Paul Candon, Group CEO of United Hardware, said the United in Excellence Awards are about celebrating the drive, commitment and ingenuity that our members bring to Irish retail. I want to congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees, and especially Ferdia Homevalue for their outstanding achievement.
“Their dedication to raising standards and serving their community is what sets them apart. Every awardee this year has demonstrated what it means to be a leader in our sector, and together, they are shaping the future of hardware retail in Ireland. My thanks also go to our sponsors – Unilin Insulation, International Ply, Dulux Paints, ECC Timber, Glennon Brothers, Grant, Westland, Irish Cement, Einhell, Triton, Wavin, Brett Martin and Mannok and all our partners – whose support helps make these achievements possible.”
Awards were presented across a wide range of categories, including paint, customer service, light hardware & DIY, merchanting, heating & plumbing, garden centre, marketing, online presence, and regional store of the year. Each store was assessed against rigorous criteria, including independent mystery shopper audits, to ensure that only the highest standards were recognised.
