A LOCAL retail employee from Lifford has been crowned Gala Retail Star Baker 2026 after impressing judges from across Ireland with her creative baking entry.
Enya Gallagher, who works at Daly’s Gala Store in Lifford, claimed the national title with her unique ‘Cake in a Cup’ recipe, earning her the top prize of €1,000.
The competition, the inaugural Gala Retail Star Baker, was launched across the Gala Retail network earlier this year, inviting employees from Gala stores throughout Ireland to showcase their baking talents and creativity.
Simon Atkin, Operations Manager, Daly’s Gala, Enya Gallagher and Kenneth Moran, Gala Retail.
The initiative attracted entries from Gala Retail staff nationwide, with participants submitting a wide variety of original recipes and inventive twists on classic bakes.
Supported by O’Brien Ingredients, the competition was judged by representatives from both Gala’s Fresh Food team and O’Brien Ingredients, who reviewed entries based on creativity, originality and overall appeal.
Enya’s winning ‘Cake in a Cup’ stood out among the entries received from across the country, earning her the title of Gala Retail Star Baker 2026.
Congratulating Enya on her success, Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail said: “One of the great things about a retail network like Gala is that every store has its own personality, and that is driven by the people who work there.
“Competitions like this give us a chance to see another side of our colleagues and the interests and talents they bring to their communities every day.
“At Gala, our stores are at the heart of communities across Ireland, and our people are what make those communities special. Congratulations to Enya on her success and for representing Daly’s Gala, Lifford, so well on a national stage.”