A time to remember our lost friends

WHILE the occasion of our 25th anniversary is largely a happy one, it’s also a time to reflect on the lost friends who are no longer around to help us celebrate our milestone.

There’s a great family atmosphere at Northside People, where staff work together as friends, professionals and colleagues. Like any family, special occasions can be tinged with sadness when we remember those left behind.

We’d like to pay special tribute to two of our departed friends – Sylvia Webb and Noel Mullen – who both passed away far too soon but left their own indelible mark on everyone associated with Northside People.

Sylvia was a founding director of the paper in 1987 and was one of the best sales representatives in the local newspaper business.

She could be a tough businesswoman and boss when required but will mostly be remembered by her colleagues for her openness, warmth and general love of life.

Few people had the ability to blend all these characteristics as well as Sylvia did. She commanded people’s loyalty and respect in equal measure.

Sylvia passed away in 1997 and left a large void in the lives of her friends, family and colleagues.

We equally feel the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Noel Mullen, who passed away peacefully in Blackrock Hospice in November 2009.

To describe Noel as one of Dublin’s great characters would be something of an understatement.

Noel, who worked as one of our senior sales executives, loved life to the limit, never failing to indulge his joint passions of rugby, music and humour.

There was never a dull moment when Noel was around, whether he was engaged in some office banter or holding court in his favourite pub, Beggars Bush.

Noel never let us forget the day he arrived in our Santry office with a live crocodile. It’s a long story but suffice to say it’s just one of many you could tell about Noel.

Behind Noel’s gregarious reputation lay a deeply sensitive, intelligent man who loved his daughter Katie dearly. We continue to miss him every single day.