Madam, – In an otherwise interesting articles marking the 75th anniversary of Aer Lingus, I am surprised that Conor Pope made no mention to JF Dempsey, the first general manager who nurtured and developed the airline until he retired 30 years later in 1966.
Unlike many overblown, overpaid chief executives today, Dempsey had little interest in monetary reward or self-promotion. I recall it being said during my time in Aer Lingus, that the board had difficulty in getting him to change his clapped out company car and only succeeded, when they suggested that its shabby condition might damage the image of the company. Dempsey led by example, under his leadership Aer Lingus punched way above its weight. As president of IATA. he was a highly influential figure in world aviation.
His contribution to the culture of the organisation was monumental. His ability to address virtually any member of staff by name, his custom of greeting passengers as they disembarked from the last flight each Christmas morning, his sense of social responsibility, providing a special fare for immigrants returning home on the sudden death of a parent, contributed hugely to company values and our sense of mission.
“Jobs for the boys” had no place in Dempsey’s airline. Each recruitment ad for the airline clearly stated, “Canvassing will disqualify” – and he meant it! I can recall an uncomfortable phone conversation with an influential politician, from my native Donegal, when I had to explain to him that if he identified the candidate he was seeking to promote that person would be struck off the list. The response left my ear ringing for the rest of the day.
We were proud to work for Aer Lingus and in the words of a former colleague Tom Kennedy we felt like patriots, promoting the country when brand Ireland didn’t exist.
JF Dempsey, like that other former Aer Lingus employee, Garret FitzGerald, was a true patriot. One of the great men of the emerging post war Ireland.
He deserves to be remembered on the 75th anniversary of the company to which he contributed so much.
Incidentally, Aer Lingus purchased the De Havilland Dragon, pictured with Conor Pope’s article, from Captain Darby O’Kennedy for, if my memory serves me, £10,000. It was lying in a semi-derelict state at Weston Aerodrome. The suggestion at the time that it was being used as a chicken coop may not have been entirely accurate! – Yours, etc,