FIGURES from the world of sport and politics have paid tribute to Kieran Kennedy who has announced his retirement as director of the O’Neills sportswear company.
The businessman joined the company 42 years ago as a 16-year-old, working his way up to become managing director in 1988.
Back in the 1970s, when Mr Kennedy arrived for his first day at work, O’Neills was a much smaller affair. Then based in a former schoolhouse with just 30 staff, it has since grown to employ around 700 people, making it the biggest employer in Strabane.
O’Neills is now Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturing company with a 16-acre site in Strabane and in Walkinstown in Co Dublin and much of that expansion is down to Mr Kennedy.
Even when Covid restrictions stopped sport, he didn’t let it stop production at the factory, turning the sewing machines to the manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment for front line health workers.
O’Neills supplies gear to all sports but it’s the company’s links to the GAA that has made it a household name.
In their march to three All Irelands, Tyrone’s success was made visible as new generations embraced the Red Hand jerseys. The O’Neills top is now the official badge of county identity for young people all over Ireland and Irish people all over the world.
Tyrone’s success was often heralded with the dressing of the huge Tinny statues in the county colours in Strabane, almost as soon as the O’Neill county qualified for an All-Ireland final.
Former Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said the company was always closely linked to the county’s success.
“O’Neills was about Tyrone and it was Kieran Kennedy who made it so. The visibility of the Tyrone gear was down to him. He worked so hard and did so much, sponsoring the games at club and county level,” Mr Harte said.
On a personal level, the former Tyrone boss – now manager of Louth – said the Strabane man supported him and his family through some of the most difficult times.
However, his greatest success was the growth of the O’Neills brand and the creation of jobs in Strabane.
“He’s forthright. What you see is what you get but he’ll always say his greatest pride is the employment he brought to Strabane.”
For Strabane, Tyrone and O’Neills, Mr Kennedy will be difficult to replace, according to Strabane MLA, Daniel McCrossan.
“Tyrone, Strabane, Omagh and Derry are in the DNA of Kieran Kennedy; his greatest delight is to see young people doing well. He never forgot his roots and always works for the home turf.
“His blunt honesty is the key to his success and the 700 jobs in Tyrone are down to him. Many people and families here owe their livelihoods to Kieran Kennedy,” the SDLP politician said.
While his loss to O’Neills and Tyrone GAA might be hard to overcome, his work for Strabane and the north west will continue through roles with Invest NI and as chairman of the 21 Training group, he said.
