Public relations pioneer Pat Heneghan has died at his home in Dublin following an illness.
Founder of the communications agency that still bears his name and is now run by his son Nigel, Mr Heneghan was a well-known figure in Irish business and public life during a long career.
Through that time he advised clients such as former taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald, Irish Distillers group, the Catholic Church, brewer Beamish & Crawford and Larry Goodman in Anglo Irish Beef Processors.
Mr Heneghan was born in Headford, Co Galway, where his family ran the Angler’s Rest hotel and bar. He attended boarding school in St Mary’s College in Galway city.
He began his career in sales with tobacco firm, PJ Carroll & Company in 1960, where he rose to become its PR manager.
In that post he was responsible for sponsorships that included the GAA All Stars and Irish Open golf championships.
Along with other members of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, he managed the global media covering the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland in 1979, taking specific responsibility for the papal visit to Knock, Co Mayo.
The following year he joined Bill O’Herlihy in the Public Relations of Ireland consultancy. While there he advised Irish Distillers as it battled a hostile takeover bid by Grand Metropolitan, Allied Lyons and Guinness, which was ultimately foiled by Pernod Ricard.
In 1990 he established Heneghan Public Relations, which continues to be one of the country’s leading communications agencies.
Outside of work he was a devoted classical music fan, attending the National Concert Hall regularly and serving on its board. He was a member of, and regular at, Portmarnock Golf Club in Co Dublin dating from his time at Carrolls.
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