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Tiernan Times

 

The Life and Times

of Chevalier

Joe Tiernan G.C.H.S.

 

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Joe Tiernan

 

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ISBN: 978-1-917242-34-9

 

Price:  € 20.00 plus P&P (Irish address)

 

 

 

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About the Book:

 

This is the autobiography of Master Builder and Chevalier, Joe Tiernan. The eldest son of a farming family, Joe spends the first two decades of his life in Co. Roscommon where he learns the benefits of hard work and a strong community spirit. At a young age, during the renovation of his family home, Joe develops an early passion for construction. He leaves for Dublin in the 1960s and soon becomes one of the most successful independent domestic construction developers that Ireland has ever produced. Eventually, he holds the highest level of official Irish construction sector organisation positions while providing insights for Irish Governmental Building Industry decisions and is responsible for bringing, and being appointed chairman of, the Fifth International Housing and Home Warranty Conference to Ireland in 1990.

Joe details his appearance at the Mahon Property Tribunal where he represented himself successfully, defending against accusations of corrupt payments.   

With a career that spans five decades Joe foresees the property crash, warning his colleagues in construction, banking and politics that the pace of home building is untenable but nobody listens. He winds down his own business and then watches his industry collapse, bringing the country with it. 

Joe also finds time to work behind the scenes with Fine Gael where he forms the Castleknock branch of the party in 1979 and helps to shape Ireland and the EU’s political landscape in the 1980s.

His extensive voluntary work includes being part of the board that oversees the building of the All Island Peace Park built at Messines, Belgium, in 1998. The park commemorates the Irish loss of life in the First World War.

Joe has been faithful to his Catholic religion since childhood and, in 2008, is invested, by the Papacy, as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre where he rises to the highest rank.

As an International Construction sector representative for Ireland he travels the world and picks up a wealth of historical and interesting facts.

Throughout this busy life Joe maintains strong bonds with his home county of Roscommon and creates time for various hobbies which include a two-part solo cruise of the River Shannon.

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About the Author:

 

 

Using the solid principles that he learned from his rural upbringing, a proud son of Roscommon has a strong influence on the Irish Construction Industry and Irish political landscape between the 1960s and 2000s. Joe represents Ireland abroad, rubs shoulders with world leaders and business magnates, undertakes extensive voluntary work, is honoured by the Papacy and manages to have multiple hobbies, one of which involves a complete solo-navigation of a sometimes stormy river Shannon.  

 

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Quotes

“My approach to the construction business was always single-minded, conscientious and persevering. If you can dream it, you can do it, and I was endowed with a work ethic which drove these dreams.”

 

“In 1955 I watched with admiration and fascination at the skills and achievements of the craftsmen who reroofed and refurbished our home in Foxwood. It was at this time that I knew the construction business was in my future.”

 

1965

”I was considering immigrating to Australia and shared the thought with a few friends and colleagues. Soon afterward, I received an anonymous unsigned postcard which stated that the most underdeveloped territory in the world lay beneath my hat. This curious advice made a strong impression on me and consequently I changed my plans and stayed in Ireland. To this day, I never found out who sent the postcard.”

“My approach to construction development has foundations in two important principles: value for the customer and fully satisfied planning laws.”

 

“Mary was very supportive of my many involvements in work and politics … she was responsible for rearing our three impressive daughters … This unwavering provision in our domestic life allowed me to concentrate on my work in the construction industry and she is one of the most important elements of my success.”

“At the Canadian Housing Conference in 1987 I was instrumental in securing Ireland as the location for the next Conference…”

 

On the decision to wind my business down during the Celtic Tiger years

“On several occasions I doubted my decision to get out but I knew deep down that we were facing a calamity of insurmountable proportions. Some people said I had lost my nerve but nothing could be further from the truth. I knew my industry; I had undertaken the research and was able to quote the statistics. It was clear that the way we were headed was unsustainable.”

 

On being invited to join the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

“I consider this one of the major honours of my life. I was admitted to the Order in recognition of my contribution to the Church and my wider societal contributions. I am the first person from Co. Roscommon upon whom this privileged has been bestowed.”