Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Two entrepreneurs who have built up an empire creating thousands of jobs, from very humble beginnings, have been honoured in recognition of the enormous contribution they have made to the economic and social fabric of the community in which they live.
Brothers-in-law Donal Ring and Michael O’Donoghue were inducted into the Order of Inisfallen at a reception in historic Muckross House in Killarney on Wednesday afternoon.
The awards scheme, a collaboration between Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council, was initiated in 2005 to recognise outstanding contributions by people to the economic development of the town and, in particular, its tourism industry.
Donal Ring is the founder of Munster Joinery and the O’Donoghue Ring Hotels Collection. He and his brother, Patrick, since deceased, established Munster Joinery in 1973 with a small operation at the rear of their family home in Ballydesmond, on the Kerry-Cork border.
The company has since grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of windows and doors in Europe and next year Munster Joinery will celebrate a landmark 50 years in business. The family-run company employs in excess of 1,800 people with a further 900 on the payroll in the UK.
Close on 50 years after setting up the company, Donal Ring is still at the helm and continues to oversee all aspects of the business.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
In 1978, he and his wife, Noreen (née O’Donoghue) purchased the property then known as the East Avenue Hotel – now the 66-bedroom Killarney Avenue Hotel.
Noreen’s brother, Michael O’Donoghue, then a qualified electrician, joined them in the hospitality business at that stage and became one of the tourism industry’s most successful and respected operators for over 40 years.
The company expanded in 1989 with the purchase of the Killarney Towers Hotel, with 182 bedrooms, and the 52-bedroom River Island Hotel in Castleisland before the flagship Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa opened in 2002 with 198 bedrooms.
Michael was at the helm as managing director of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection until his recent retirement and the O’Donoghue Ring Collection is now one of the largest employers in Kerry.
Donal and Michael also expanded into the UK hospitality market with Centre Island Hotels which now has hotel properties based in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.
The induction ceremony in Muckross House heard that both Donal Ring and Michael O’Donoghue are prime examples of what can be achieved in life through hard work and sheer determination and they have set a great example for future generations to follow.
MC for the occasion was hotelier and Muckross House Trustee, Geraldine Rosney, and also presiding were Deputy Mayor of Killarney Cllr John O’Donoghue, President of Killarney Chamber of Commerce, Niall Kelleher, Chairman of Cáirde Chill Áirne Conor Hennigan and Chairman of the Muckross House Trustees, Marcus Treacy.
Previous Order of Inisfallen recipients include actor Michael Fassbender, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, industrialist Isolde Liebherr, Charles, the former Prince of Wales and now King of England and entertainer Daniel O’Donnell.
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