You've Been Served: Patrick Murphy, General Manager of The Hardiman, Galway

Patrick Murphy is the General Manager of The Hardiman, in Galway since July 2019, writes Denise O'Donoghue

Technically my first job in the industry was at the age of seven when I used to do the bottle skips and stock the shelves for a small but fantastic pub in Galway, which is still there incidentally and hasn’t changed very much in the past 40 years!

I would go to the farmers market every Saturday morning with my Dad to sell our spuds and vegetables and it was just something to keep me entertained.

Payment was always a mineral and a bag of Taytos, which for a seven-year-old was just the best thing ever! I loved doing it.

I returned to Ireland relatively recently, after living and working overseas for almost a decade and I’ve personally been surprised by the changes in culture in the approach of the Irish customer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner)

It’s not a negative, but rather something I’ve personally had to adapt too.

My perception is that there’s certainly a lower tolerance for error and a greater propensity for feedback as a consequence.

It just means we have to be much sharper and continue to look to improve.

I chose the career for many reasons; in part because of the buzz you get from it, which is difficult to explain to those not in the industry.

There’s a real social aspect to the job as you’re generally working with people that are themselves really social, outgoing and fun and you’re meeting guests staying with you that are there to relax and unwind, and/or have a good time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner)

There’s obviously a very serious side to the job also in that it is a business and we have to deliver on expectation and service, but it’s fun, fast-paced, social and no two days or two guests are the same, especially in The Hardiman which is in the heart of the action in Galway city centre on Eyre Square.

It’s very diverse and busy, generally an early start at 7.30am. We work with a relatively large team here and although it’s a bit cliché to state it but our business is the hospitality business and it doesn’t work unless the team are aligned with you on it.

I’ve many great memories and making more all the time, but as I met my wife Catherine through work and we now have three lovely children, I guess the best moment would have to be the day I met her on the ground floor of Choice Hotels Clarion IFSC property, in front of the guest lifts.

For seasonal spring offers and hotel experiences see www.thehardiman.ie