Tributes pour in for businessman Joe Gantly

TRIBUTES poured in across the country for businessman Joe Gantly yesterday, who was described as a positive, energetic and talented personality.

Mr Gantly’s sudden death early yesterday morning shocked the business community in Cork.

The Dublin-born 53-year-old spent most of his working career in Cork where he was president of the Chamber and chairman of the Cork Airport Authority.

In the initial 10 years of his career he was employed by the Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh.

He joined Apple in 1990 as the systems operations manager and in 1998 was appointed as the managing director of European operations.

Mr Gantly presided over the transformation in the fortunes of the Apple corporation plant in Cork.

When he resigned from the computer giant in 2004 he established the consultancy firm JG Consulting and became very involved in the boards of a number of technology companies and was a former member of UCC’s governing body.

He also spent much of his time as chairman of Cork Airport Authority presiding over a major capital investment programme.

He was also involved in delicate negotiations concerning the amount of debt which the airport was asked to pay. He stepped down from this role in July.

The chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority Declan Collier said Mr Gantly was a “committed professional” who worked on the board of the Cork Airport Authority, where he was its first chairman.

Mr Gantly was also chairman and chief executive of technology firm, SensL.

He was an engineering graduate of Trinity College Dublin and holds an MBA in business administration from University College Galway. He also holds a qualification in computer systems from the University of Pittsburgh.

He had stepped down as president of Cork Chamber on Monday.

The new president, Ger O’Mahoney, yesterday expressed “deep shock and sadness” at his death.

“Joe Gantly was a Dublin man born and bred. He came to Cork and he adopted Cork, and Cork adopted him.

“He made an immense contribution to this city and region and his death at the age of just 53 robs us all of an extraordinary talent and commitment which enriched Cork, and this Chamber, which he served as president for the past two years,” he said.

Mr Gantly grew up close to the Phoenix Park in Dublin beside the Navan Road.

He started out as a design engineer with the crane manufacturer Liebherr in Killarney.

Entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly said: “Joe Gantly was a wonderful friend and mentor and a true icon for entrepreneurs in Ireland.

“He generously shared his vast experience and wisdom with everyone who sought it.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he was “extremely saddened and taken aback” at the death of Mr Gantly.

“Joe was a very positive person and very much solution driven. He made an outstanding contribution to Cork and the country and he will be greatly missed,” said Mr Martin.

Mr Gantly lived in Rochestown with his wife, Mary and their three children, Sean, David and Niamh.

Pat Phelan, chief executive of Cubic Telecom said: “Joe, while being one of Cork’s most foremost businessmen, had always time for start-ups like Cubic, my fondest memory of Joe is time spent talking tech with him, his business acumen was second to none, all of us will miss him.”

Mr Gantly’s friend and fellow Cork businessman Liam Casey of PCH said his death will be a big loss for the region.

“He had a great passion for business and he was always very generous with both his business knowledge and his time.

“ He had an amazing global perspective and he was always on the lookout for an angle for Cork.”

Mr Gantly will be buried on Monday at 12 noon in Dardistown Cemetery, Old Airport Road, Dublin.