Vivian Murray
Encyclopedia
Vivian Murray was an Irish
businessman. Murray served as the chief executive of the Irish Goods Council during the 1970s and 1980s, when it launched the "Buy Irish" and "Guaranteed Irish" marketing campaigns.
Murray's first job was at local Irish post office
in Clonmel following his graduation from high school. His other earlier occupations included positions at both Kelly and Shiel and Remington Rand
.
Murray also became the chairman of both An Post
and Bord Iascaigh Mhara
later in his career.
, County Tipperary
to parents, Jeremiah Murray and Mai Lynch Murray. He was one of six children in his family. Murray attended the Christian Brothers High School
in his native Clonmel.
He married Nancy Clear and was father to John Murray
, an Irish business journalist and broadcaster
for the RTÉ
business division and a Morning Ireland
presenter
. Vivian and Nancy had six children during their marriage.
He became widely known for his launch of the "Guaranteed Irish" and "Buy Irish" marketing and advertising campaign
s of the 1970s and 1980s, which were aimed at Irish consumer
s. Murray's "Buy Irish" was based on his own beliefs that quality was more important in Irish products than merely purchasing an item because it was made in Ireland
. He also believed that the Buy Irish campaign, as it came to be called, should focus on the Irish consumer market. Murray also felt that low quality products should not be supported by the "Buy Irish" campaign.
Murray felt that free trade
was important, but did not want the "Buy Irish" campaign to heavily emphasize exports, which he believed was detrimental to the domestic Irish manufacturing and consumer markets. However, he was also strongly against any intrusion by Irish protectionists into the marketing campaign. Th campaign was credited with saving thousands of domestic manufacturing jobs, especially for younger people.He explained his goals for the Irish Goods Council and its "Buy Irish" campaign in 1980 saying, "What the Irish Goods Council does is to create the selling
environment, develop new patterns of consumer desire, build up goodwill
and favourable attitudes. These attitudes must then be exploited by the manufacturer."Murray's success at the Irish Goods Council was widely noted. He and his colleagues at the Council were praised by then Senator
Mary Harney
during a 1980 political debate. However, success ended during the 1980s. The "Guaranteed Irish" promotional campaign was founded to be in violation of the European Union
's Treaty of Rome
. As a result, the Irish government soon cut its state funding for the campaign. Murray left the Irish Goods Council in 1989.However, he was still named the Small Firms’ Association Business Person of the Year in 1989, the same year he left the Irish Goods Council.
in 1981 while still heading the Irish Goods Council. He stayed on as chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara for two terms.
He next became the chairman of An Post
in 1990 following his departure from the Irish Goods Council and was credited with returning the Irish postal system to profitability
during his tenure. Murray also joined the Gray-Murray consulting firm, which is now known as Indecon.
, to establish projects to promote Irish culture.
He was appointed to the board of trustees of the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe. The Louvain Institute, which was created to promote Ireland and its cultural heritage in the European Union, is headquartered at the Irish College
in Leuven
, Belgium
. Murray was later awarded a fellowship by the institute.
Murray's had other very wide ranging life accomplishments and community involvements. He was appointed as an member of the first Independent Radio and Television Commission. Murray served as a former director of the former LSB College, which has since become part of the Dublin Business School
. He was also an active member of the Priory Institute
, which is part of the St Mary’s Dominican Priory in Tallaght
, County Dublin
.
Vivian Murray died in Dublin on March 6, 2008, at the age of 76 after a long illness. Murray was survived by his wife, Nancy (née
Clear), and six children - daughters Mary, Anne, Bernie and Madeleine and sons, Dermot and John.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
businessman. Murray served as the chief executive of the Irish Goods Council during the 1970s and 1980s, when it launched the "Buy Irish" and "Guaranteed Irish" marketing campaigns.
Murray's first job was at local Irish post office
An Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
in Clonmel following his graduation from high school. His other earlier occupations included positions at both Kelly and Shiel and Remington Rand
Remington Rand
Remington Rand was an early American business machines manufacturer, best known originally as a typewriter manufacturer and in a later incarnation as the manufacturer of the UNIVAC line of mainframe computers but with antecedents in Remington Arms in the early nineteenth century. For a time, the...
.
Murray also became the chairman of both An Post
An Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
and Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord Iascaigh Mhara or BIM is the agency of the Irish State with responsibility for developing the Irish marine fishing and aquaculture industries....
later in his career.
Personal life
Murray was born on July 22, 1932, in ClonmelClonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
to parents, Jeremiah Murray and Mai Lynch Murray. He was one of six children in his family. Murray attended the Christian Brothers High School
CBS High School Clonmel
CBS High School Clonmel , is a second level Christian Brothers school in Clonmel, South Tipperary in Ireland.It was built in 1899 and its first Superior was Joseph White. A new school building was first occupied in 1971. By 1985 it had a student population of 550 and 31 staff.The current school...
in his native Clonmel.
He married Nancy Clear and was father to John Murray
John Murray (broadcaster)
John Murray is an Irish journalist and broadcaster. He currently presents The John Murray Show on RTÉ Radio 1, "focus[ing] on lifestyle and entertainment items", filling the slot from 09:00 to 10:00 previously occupied by Ryan Tubridy, who moved to RTÉ 2fm....
, an Irish business journalist and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
for the RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
business division and a Morning Ireland
Morning Ireland
Morning Ireland is the breakfast news programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 in Ireland and is noted as that country's most listened to radio programme. It is broadcast each weekday morning between 07.00 and 09.00 and is presented by Aine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille, Rachael English and Aoife Kavanagh...
presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. Vivian and Nancy had six children during their marriage.
Irish Goods Council
Murray's career began to take off when he was appointed general manager at the Irish National Development Association. The organization would later be renamed the Irish Goods Council and was funded by the Irish government. Under Murray, the Irish Goods Council would be known as a champion of Irish products, sold both domestically and abroad.He became widely known for his launch of the "Guaranteed Irish" and "Buy Irish" marketing and advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
s of the 1970s and 1980s, which were aimed at Irish consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s. Murray's "Buy Irish" was based on his own beliefs that quality was more important in Irish products than merely purchasing an item because it was made in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He also believed that the Buy Irish campaign, as it came to be called, should focus on the Irish consumer market. Murray also felt that low quality products should not be supported by the "Buy Irish" campaign.
Murray felt that free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
was important, but did not want the "Buy Irish" campaign to heavily emphasize exports, which he believed was detrimental to the domestic Irish manufacturing and consumer markets. However, he was also strongly against any intrusion by Irish protectionists into the marketing campaign. Th campaign was credited with saving thousands of domestic manufacturing jobs, especially for younger people.He explained his goals for the Irish Goods Council and its "Buy Irish" campaign in 1980 saying, "What the Irish Goods Council does is to create the selling
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
environment, develop new patterns of consumer desire, build up goodwill
Social capital
Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. The concept of social capital highlights the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. The term social capital is frequently...
and favourable attitudes. These attitudes must then be exploited by the manufacturer."Murray's success at the Irish Goods Council was widely noted. He and his colleagues at the Council were praised by then Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
Mary Harney
Mary Harney
Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
during a 1980 political debate. However, success ended during the 1980s. The "Guaranteed Irish" promotional campaign was founded to be in violation of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's Treaty of Rome
Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
. As a result, the Irish government soon cut its state funding for the campaign. Murray left the Irish Goods Council in 1989.However, he was still named the Small Firms’ Association Business Person of the Year in 1989, the same year he left the Irish Goods Council.
Other positions
Murray simultaneously appointed the chairman of the Bord Iascaigh MharaBord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord Iascaigh Mhara or BIM is the agency of the Irish State with responsibility for developing the Irish marine fishing and aquaculture industries....
in 1981 while still heading the Irish Goods Council. He stayed on as chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara for two terms.
He next became the chairman of An Post
An Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
in 1990 following his departure from the Irish Goods Council and was credited with returning the Irish postal system to profitability
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
during his tenure. Murray also joined the Gray-Murray consulting firm, which is now known as Indecon.
Later life
Vivian Murray fully retired from the business world during the middle of the 1990s. However, he continued to remain active in other causes and foundations. For example, he collaborated closely with Roman Catholic Father James McDyer in Glencolumcille, County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, to establish projects to promote Irish culture.
He was appointed to the board of trustees of the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe. The Louvain Institute, which was created to promote Ireland and its cultural heritage in the European Union, is headquartered at the Irish College
Irish College
Irish Colleges is the collective name used for approximately 34 centres of education for Irish Catholic clergy and lay people opened on continental Europe in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Colleges were set up to educate Roman Catholics from Ireland in their own religion following the...
in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Murray was later awarded a fellowship by the institute.
Murray's had other very wide ranging life accomplishments and community involvements. He was appointed as an member of the first Independent Radio and Television Commission. Murray served as a former director of the former LSB College, which has since become part of the Dublin Business School
Dublin Business School
Dublin Business School incorporating Portobello College is the largest independent college in Ireland. With over 9,000 students, DBS provides a range of full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with courses for 2010/2011 in subject areas such as business, law, event...
. He was also an active member of the Priory Institute
The Priory Institute
The Priory Institute, is part of the St Mary’s Dominican Priory in Tallaght, County Dublin, and provides, certificate, diploma, and degree programmes in Theology and Philosophy...
, which is part of the St Mary’s Dominican Priory in Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
.
Vivian Murray died in Dublin on March 6, 2008, at the age of 76 after a long illness. Murray was survived by his wife, Nancy (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Clear), and six children - daughters Mary, Anne, Bernie and Madeleine and sons, Dermot and John.