Electric.ie July/ August 2020

60 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • Obituary Paul Hoare Remembered 1958 - 2020 "YNWA" I first met Paul in the mid- 1970s when I joined Thor Appliances. At the time he was a young lad working in the spare parts department but, from the very beginning, he plagued me to bring him in to the sales team. He obviously had drive and ambition so I tried him in various trainee positions. He achieved the goals set every time and eventually ended up as the rep for the northern counties. Paul was a born salesman, full of energy and enthusiasm. He was also good with people, very well mannered and knew how to put them at ease and gain their confidence. Not surprisingly, he always met his targets. It was only a matter of time before he branched out on his own and everyone was pleased for him when he set up Beaumark Ltd with his partner Tony McEvoy. Beaumark became a great success and Paul eventually bought Tony out to take full control of the company some years later. Paul was an expert on electrical appliances and had the vision to foresee early on the importance of developing relationships with manufacturers in the Far East. Over the years he created a remarkable network of contacts, not just with companies but also influential individuals in that part of the world. Despite his success he remained fundamentally the same, mischievous self. I remember one occasion being on a stand at a trade fair in China and getting a clip on the ear from behind. On looking around there stood Paul with a big grin on his face. As his business developed Paul became an active supporter of the Irish Electrical Benevolent Association (IEBA) and was a Director of the Association until 2014 when he stood down due to business commitments. He gave generously of his time and energy to help establish what was then a fledgling charity, and worked tirelessly at fundraising over the years. Apart from that, he himself was one of the Association's most generous supporters. As a result of his leadership and hard work, the IEBA of today is a strong body that provides support to members of the electrical industry who fall on hard times. Just like for many others, Paul’s business suffered a setback when the 2009 recession hit. However, in the spirit of all entrepreneurs he battled on. He had great belief in himself and his abilities, and of course his beloved Beaumark. His enthusiasm and drive never waned and, just recently, he had signed a huge contract with a very impressive Far Eastern family to represent their interests, not just in Ireland, but also the UK. I was in awe of him for having pulled off such a significant coup and thought, “the entrepreneur strikes again!” Unfortunately, Paul passed away suddenly just as he was about to launch this venture. Over all the years Paul had the full support of his wife Carmel and the children, Nicola, Declan and Anne-Marie. He adored them all but especially his grandchild Sean. He will be greatly missed by them in particular, but also his many friends not just in Ireland and throughout Europe, but also from around the world. May he rest in peace. Gay Byrne