Galway Independent, 17th September 2008

Galway Chamber will kick off its Autumn Business Lunch series by welcoming guest speaker John O'Shea of GOAL to its lunch on Tuesday 30 September at 12.30pm in the Clayton Hotel, Galway.

John O'Shea, sports reporter and humanitarian, was born in Limerick in 1944 and spent his formative years in Charleville and Westport.

For 24 years, he worked as a sports reporter with the Irish Press Group and in 1977 he established GOAL as a humanitarian organisation dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor in the developing world.

From its first year of operation in 1977, GOAL has grown to spend over EUR500 million implementing relief and development programmes in 50 countries in the past 30 years. GOAL currently employs approximately 145 GOALies who work alongside over 2,800 local staff to implement humanitarian programmes in 11 countries across Africa, Asia and South America.

John O'Shea's list of achievements and awards include: the People of the Year 1987 and 1992, The Ballygowan Outstanding Achievement Award 1988, MIR Award 1992, Late Late Show Tribute 1995, Texaco Outstanding Achievement Award 1995 and the Tipperary InternationalPeace Award 2004, Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2005.

Mr O'Shea was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Notre Dame University in May this year and was the only non-US native to receive the honour.

At the Galway Chamber Business Lunch, John O'Shea will speak on his experiences, his organisation and what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means in practical terms.

The event is sponsored by National Irish Bank.

National Irish Bank was re-launched in April 2006 under its new parent – Danske Group.

For further information and to book for this event contact Elaine at Galway Chamber on 091-535028.