Martin Naughton: Business Leader and Philanthropist
Martin Naughton, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, has died at the age of 87. He was the founder of Glen Electric in Newry in 1973, which later became Glen Dimplex in 1977 following the acquisition of a larger British competitor. Under his leadership, the company expanded into a major multinational electrical goods enterprise, owning well-known brands such as Morphy Richards and Lec.
Naughton was widely recognized for using his substantial wealth to support education and the arts throughout Ireland. In 2007, he and his wife Carmel contributed £1 million towards the rebuilding of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Earlier, in 2001, the couple endowed the Naughton Gallery at Queen's University Belfast with a donation of £500,000.
Legacy in Education and the Arts
Professor Sir Ian Greer, president and vice chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, paid tribute to Naughton, describing him as an
"exceptional entrepreneur, philanthropist and lifelong champion of education". He added,
"Martin's vision, generosity and commitment to supporting universities have left an enduring legacy."Professor Greer noted that the Naughton Gallery
"continues to inspire creativity, culture and public engagement", and highlighted Naughton's
"longstanding commitment to our university has benefited generations of students and researchers".
In 2018, the Naughton family made what is believed to be the largest private philanthropic donation in the history of the Irish state by gifting €25 million (£21.4 million) to Trinity College Dublin. Trinity's Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, expressed her admiration in a statement, saying Naughton's
"legacy at Trinity will be felt for generations to come"and that it had been
"my great honour and privilege to have known such an inspiring and generous man."
Commitment to Cross-Border Cooperation
Originally from Dundalk in County Louth, Martin Naughton had a strong interest in fostering cross-border cooperation. He served as the inaugural chairman of InterTradeIreland, an organisation established under the Good Friday Agreement to promote trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
