Professional rivalries were set aside for a few hours at La Stampa restaurant yesterday as the Public Relations Institute of Ireland gave lifetime achievement awards to Joe Murray and Jim Milton, who have run Murray Consultants since 1974. Padraig McKeon of Drury Communications lauded Murray for his “professionalism”.

Murray recalled leaving the Irish Press to take a sabbatical to study and “ending up in PR”. He said the agency was now in “very good hands” under Pat Walsh’s leadership. Milton said the “end-of-life” award was like winning the triple crown and quoted Henry II. “To be alive, to be king, to be 50, all at the same time. Isn’t that a thing.”