People

We were shocked and saddened to hear of the recent passing of our old friend and colleague, Geoff MacEnroe, after a long and bravely-fought illness. A number of us attended his funeral service on video from Merrion Church. Were it not for covid restrictions many former colleagues would have been present at the grave.

Geoff served in CTT for many years, as Manager in Tokyo and later in Brussels, where his remit included the EU Commission “market” and in which he contributed greatly to the development of a high quality “brand” image for CTT and the Irish business sector. In between these posts he spent some years organising trade missions in far away regions of the planet with export potential, rather exotic places such as Mexico, Peru, Irak, Argentina, where the purpose and justification for trade missions was to get business, not just to “junket”. The success of these missions was due to the fact that Geoff went there as the advance party weeks, even a few months ahead, on his own, established a “popup” office, did research for each participant, made appropriate meetings for all companies in advance, and managed all aspects of the programme in great detail. Geoff was conscientious and scrupulous in his work, always aiming at the highest achievement standards.

Geoff served as a committee member and for some time as Chairman, of our Alumni Association. I doubt that he ever missed an event. He enjoyed the idea of keeping in touch with, and sometimes helping out, former colleagues, very much. Even after he left the committee, he often volunteered ideas and help, such as photos from the great old days of CTT. And, being a good player himself and maintaining excellent fitness, he ran the CTT tennis tournament every year until recently.

Geoff will be missed for many reasons and by all in CTT who worked with him. No doubt he is now in a good place, with his beloved son Mark.  Our deep condolences to his wife Sheila and his daughters Lisa and Jane

(A few more images related to Geoff are at https://www.netsso.com/visitordocs )

Our former colleague (Paris office), David Doyle, now Ambassador of St. Kitts & Nevis to UNESCO, has been doing valiant work recently trying to line up international politicial and financial support for the small islands of the world, as they face the prospect of serious flooding from the rising seas of climate change in the coming decades. His recent letter to the Financial Times may be of interest

It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the passing of former CTT colleague, Paul Hogan. We offer deep condolences to his children and extended family.
Paul was one of the great characters of CTT, a man who made an exceptional contribution to the organisations standards and values. He was ambitious for CTT in its national responsibility for economic development and especialy for the promotion of design in our national and personal lives. He had much to do with the establishment of the Kikenny Design Workshops, the injection of Scandinavian and other foreign design talent into Irish industry and the raising of the quality of the offer from Irish indigenous industry on world markets. He later headed up the CTT Technical Assistance Programme, offering training in export development to many less developed countries.
He carried with great courage the pain and disability of a chronic wasting disease, never letting it impede the energetic delivery of his responsibilities and objectives in many parts of the globe.
Paul was a guy of action, pursuant to commitment, as seen in the spectacular, personally risky actions he took in London in 1956 to rescue the Hugh Lane art collection for the nation (which we remembered in this blog here). He was also a great actor, a talented mimic, wit and entertainer, having a fine creative mind and always an optimistic good humoured demeanour. He will be missed by very many admirers. May he Rest in Peace.