The Annual Golf Outing was held in glorious sunshine at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club on Thursday, 17 September. There was the usual strong field of seasoned players and, given the difficulty of the course, all the hot money was on one of the Dun Laoghaire members to seize the Claret Jug. Local members included Mary Cryan, Alan Dixon, Liam Kelleher, Martin McCarthy and Malachy Scally and accounted for almost half the total field. Liam almost did it with a great score of 36 Points but he was pipped at the post by Lisheen Falls member, Gerry Morrissey with a whopping 38 Points. Rathfarnham’s Gillian O’Donnell was third with 29 points. The other players, not already mentioned, were Peter Bennett, Don Briggs, Karen Rothwell and John McGuire. After the game, all dined safely outside watching the dusk descend on the mountains in the distant landscape while quaffing their favourite beverage to replenish the body and mind after a great test of golf enjoyed in wonderful company.
Culture
The covid lockdown put the kybosh on the Alumni Programme of events and outings for this year (- so far, anyway), so the committee decided to check out the possibility of continuing communications in the cyber sphere, via video
Its been going very well. Marjorie McHenry has been doing programme management and John McGuire is video master, using the Zoom from his dining table. There have been two sessions so far, with 12 in attendance at the first and 16 at the second. I think John’s Zoom is limited to 12 at any one time, but that can be increased if the regular demand grows beyond that. (PS: The next session will be Tuesday 28 July at 4.30 Dublin time)
The tentative plan at the moment is to have one “all comers” Alumni session- that is, for anyone, any purpose, once per month. Marjorie will send out the date for that each month and anyone who would like to participate then sends his or her name to Marjorie or John, so that John knows who to send the meeting link to, usually the day before the session.
But there is also an idea, under development- or at least discussion- to have sessions for specific purposes, for example “regional” meetings- for example, any staff who served in Dusseldorf- or chat groups for particular agendas, such as…(pure examples !)… experience of doing consultancy in Bosnia,…trade mission to Bordeau for investing in this seasons grand crus…or…anything.
If you have any ideas about that, or just any ideas.. then please let the committee know, by emailing Marjorie, or John or Frank or (if you have become a “member” of this blog), just send your thoughts in the “info-box” at the bottom of this post. You’ll find that when you double click on the Title of this post and open it in its own window. (To join as a member- very quickly- see the link in the upper right side of the Home page, in red). (Only members can comment/reply)
29th November 2019
Pre-Christmas Get Together with AGM
at The Merrion Inn from 18.30 hrs.
30th August 2019
CTT Alumni Annual Golf Outing will take place in Carrickmines Golf Club
on Friday, 30th August 2019. John McGuire will be in touch with the
golfers nearer the date.
Anniversary Gala Evening
After a very successful and hugely popular 25th Anniversary Gala Evening, we had many requests for a repeat performance in 5 years’ time. 5 years have now passed (yes really!), it is time for another celebration of what was for many of us the best years of our working lives.
The venue remains the Thomas Prior room in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge. Further details will follow – but please start to make plans to attend now. We ran out of space last time, so book early if you want a night’s celebration with all those great CTT characters and their stories.
Reply to: marjoriemchenry@outlook.com or call/text 087 2477784
Visit to Charleville House & Gardens, Enniskerry
First owned by the Monck family since 1702 and then Donald Davies (of dress fame), it is now the home of Mr and Mrs Ken Rohan
The present house dates from the 1830’s and contains a magnificent collection of Irish furniture and paintings. The extensive gardens are breath-taking.
Meet at Whelan’s restaurant, the Silver Tassie, Loughlinstown , Co Dublin at 12.00pm for lunch (own expense) and depart by car at 2pm for Charleville, followed by tea in Rose Mary Craig’s house in Enniskerry village, which is also home to Enniskerry Gallery Antiques.
Cost: €15 per person (entrance fee to Charleville House).
Reply to: rosemarycraig@eircom.net or call/text 086 8163187
Here’s a link to a video of the gardens.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWQGK9lo9tg
Our photo- thanks to Rosemary !- shows Denis and Selma Harrington, Tom Mulligan and the rest of the gang of about 35 who turned up for an enjoyable sail on the canal barge in July. Because of canal works to the west, we took the easterly route and a wee look at Dublin Bay before an excellent lunch on board. Nice to meet Michael Brennan there (the property developer from East Africa), and long time ago old colleague, Philip Mooney, formerly US, now Wicklow-based well known dealer in Irish bank shares.(He got out before your Editor !)
Always the best night of the year, this year Nostalgia Nite will be on Friday, November 30, at the place where great plans were laid to save the economy when at the depths of its distress..the M1, Merrion Inn.
Marjorie will provide details to all CTT Alumni email list this week, but indications are that the AGM will begin at 6.45 pm, Drinkies at 7.30 and a great meal at 8.15.
A big attendance is expected. Paul Sheridan has already booked his flight from Australia ! The committee requests, kindly, that you indicate your likely attendance to a committee member in advance, (preferably well in advance), so that a suitable supply of quality food can be booked.
Do not let this opportunity pass, etc. Dress nicely. Blasphemy not permitted at tables.
This is one of the events not to miss ! . Always great fun and this year, November 24 th, was as good as any previously.
Fifty seven alumni attended- many first attending the 2017 AGM- the minutes of which are available by application to Chairman Frank- and superb food- a two course dinner !- was supplied in the Merrion Inn, upsatirs room. Treasurer John even allocated a free drink too, for all paid up members. Just a terrific evening. Great to meet Paul Sheridan, all the way from Australia and Anthony and Monica Cooney, regular attendees fr0m Cologne. Don’t miss it next year, lads. ! (Thanks, Geoff, for the photos!)
(Sorry, lads…Maybe someone can tell me how to place these images two abreast??)
As time marches on, it seems we receive news more frequently of former colleagues who have
passed through to the better place. Sadly,in the recent few weeks, we have had such reason to
remember Sally Scott, Paddy Jordan and Maureen Frawley
Sally Scott was widely loved and admired, both in her many years in CTT/ Head Office and later, as a
regular attendee of Alumni events. The following memorial is supplied by Marjorie McHenry, Anne
Kennedy and Nancy Downes:
Sally came to CTT when the Whiskey Campaign was launched (early 1960s). Sean Gallagher was in
charge and Biddie Greene was involved. Sally worked to Biddie for the campaign. They got on
so well that Sally, Biddie, Nancy and Clodagh Doyle planned a ski holiday together. They were
invited up to Sally’s mother’s house every Sunday to prepare for the holiday where they
practised their moves and knitted fairisle jumpers. Unfortunately Sean was unable to let
Biddie take the time off, so they went without her. Arriving in Kitzbuehl, they were treated
like VIPs in the hotel because Peter Needham, then CTT-Germany manager got wind of their plans
and sent a case of wine to the hotel. Also a beautiful bunch of flowers arrived for Clodagh
from an anonymous admirer (so she said and then marred him).
Sally worked for Michael Clarke for many years. She also worked for Sheila Hussey and Martin
Sheridan and later with Gerry O’Brien and Paula Keogh – tied into the Exhibitions Department
headed by Percy Lovegrove. Here she showed real CTT spirit – get the show on the road no matter
what.
Her love for her “boys” (her three poodles) was well known. At the Summer barbeque when
talking to Marie Gill and Nancy, she announced she was going to get a new dog – her three walks
a day were auspicious, as her friends in the neighbourhood missed her and raised the alarm. Sally knew the local business people well – she useto bring around Christmas lunch for the
guys who had to work in her local garage! Sally was a “real trooper”
Paddy Jordan joined CTTY in 1963 and was posted to the New York office to work under Dan
Scully. Fintan Keogh worked with him there and tells me:
“Paddy and I shared a small office in the Irish Consulate building, 33 E 50th street. Our boss was
“Mr. Scully.” Paddy and I shared a broad portfolio of product sectors. . I don’t know how successful
we were but we spent happy times together. He loved to pull the odd prank not least on our exceedingly
tolerant boss !
I can’t recall dates but Paddy then moved back to Dublin and must have been one of the first
into Paris for a few years before moving up to Brussels office. After 3/4 years he was back in
Dublin and later joined Lissadel Towels. He then moved to CII after about 4/5 years.He made his
mark in the Food and Drinks section and of course was instrumental in getting CII companies to
sponsor young graduates to gain work experience and language skills across Europe.
Paddy was an accomplished pianist and church organist”
For those who haven’t already seen it, an obituray appeared in last weeks Irish Times. Here is
a link to it, but apologies for the reproduction. and right-click to choose Rotate to read it
upright!
Maureen Frawley worked in our New York office from the late 1970s to, I believe, the nineties.
She was alsways the smiling, helpful and modest member of staff (and totally reliable and
efficient). One of those people you love to have on a team and who seems able to absorb any
stress calmly and pleasantly. At the time, I was aware that Maureen had a connection to the
theatre/ acting profession, but she never talked about it, never promoted herself. But in fact,
Maureen was an accomplished musician, a gold-medal winning singer at an early age, a choirist,
with the Pan-Am and other choirs, an actress, on famous stages and, along with her husband
Bernard, a performer and collaborator with some of the greatest personalities in theatre in
the US and elsewhere for most of her life. (Thanks to Biddy Greene for help with this)
This was described beautifully in her eulogy by her daughter Oonagh, at her burial in Blainroe,
Co. Wicklow recently. A copy of it is placed in our archive, and you can access it via this
link.
We rememebr them with sadness and joy. May they rest in peace. RIP.