Irish Examiner view: Paddy Galvin connects us to another era in the life of Waterford

The passing of the former Waterford Crystal chief executive reminds us of very different times in industrial relations 

As well a stark reminder of the fraught industrial relations of the 1990s, Paddy Galvin's passing reminds us of a pivotal moment in the life of Waterford City and County. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive

The recent passing of Paddy Galvin will be particularly evocative in Waterford, as the Cork native’s name was synonymous with a period in the city’s history which he himself later described as “dog rough”.

In 1989, Galvin was appointed chief executive of Waterford Crystal, a key industry in Waterford for decades, and was charged with rationalising the company’s factories.