Mayo retailer Peter Gaughan has been named as the new national president of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA).
Peter served as vice-president during 2019/20, working closely with outgoing national president Joe Mannion. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the CSNA was unable to host its traditional handover ceremony at the National Conference and Gala Dinner which was postponed until May 2021.
Peter and his wife Catherine own Gaughans Spar in Balla, Mayo that they have successfully ran for over 20 years. Peter is also a postmaster and involved in the IPU. Over the years, he has fulfilled many important roles within the association, such as chairperson of the Legislative Committee and he is the current finance officer for the association also.
Looking ahead to his term in office, Peter aims to ensure that the local retailer gets the recognition from our government for the key role that they play in our local communities and the overall economy.
“The local retailer plays a huge role in paying and collecting taxes, supporting local producers and suppliers and creating a huge number of jobs in their localities,” he says.
“During the Covid pandemic and the Beast from the East bad weather, we have seen many local retailers step up to the plate and be counted, making sure that the most vulnerable in our society were cared for and remaining open to ensure that the local communities were looked after.”
On the role of the local shop in the community, he continues: “We adapt to the needs of our communities rather than try to sell them what we think they want. We embrace and support local charities, clubs and societies both with time and money because we too are part of that community.”
Peter aims to lift members’ status and not just be seen as a small local shops, but to be recognised as the biggest employers in Ireland and a foundation on which communities are built, stating “too often though we are taken for granted especially by our government who are happy to burden us with extra costs and bureaucracy and still expect us to be there when the hard times come around again.”
If you would like to make representation to the National President on key issues of concern or if you have any suggestions as to how CSNA can best serve its members, please send your comments FAO national president to info@csna.ie or call 045 535050.
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