Investigations are under way after a shop was ransacked less than 24 hours after its grand reopening.
Barron's Spar in Blackwater, Co Clare, opened on Tuesday following a 10-month refurbishment.
However, in the early hours of yesterday morning, the shop was broken into, and extensive damage was caused to the shop, windows and cash management system.
Some stock, including cigarettes, was also stolen.
Alannah Barron, who runs the shop with her family, described the damage that had been caused.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, she said: "The first night we opened - at 5.20am, the alarm was set off, and an intruder entered the building."
"We have hi-tech camera systems, alarm systems, cash management systems - everything has gone into this new store.
"We were contacted straight away by our monitoring company, and this was sent on to An Garda Síochána. They arrived out within minutes.
"I met them there to see unfortunately the mess that had been created ... the windows smashed, shelving damaged, tables damaged, our fancy state-of-the-art cash management system [damaged]."
Ms Barron said that significant damage was caused to the cash management system as the intruder tried to access the money inside.
"I can't even access the cash myself. This is the most secure, up-to-date cash system in the market," she said.
"The intruder tried to get it out. It weighs a ton. He tried to lift it and he smashed it off the ground.
"Thankfully, he wasn't able to take out the cash management system, that’s what he was after.
"He got cigarettes and he got products, but it was the damage that was done to the store, that was very upsetting," she added.
Ms Barron said that the scene that met her at the shop was "disheartening" but that she was grateful for the support received from her local community.
"It was very disheartening after all the work that went into this project. People unfortunately don't see all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on," she said.
"But thankfully, we were absolutely overwhelmed with the support that we received on social media, the public, customers coming in offering their help. Honestly, the kindness out there was just amazing.
"My suppliers, Spar, Circle K, so many companies, they couldn't do enough for us."
Ms Barron said that she is keeping a positive outlook, despite initially questioning whether the family should remain in business following the break-in.
"I've actually had those thoughts, but I suppose you have to just drive on and look to tomorrow being another day and a new start," she said.
"You can't let these things get you down, you just have to go again.
"The kindness just makes us feel a lot better, when you see the support from the community and the public that we've received.
"It makes it all better, yes, but it is not easy being in business these days, definitely not," she added.
