The doyen of the public relations industry, Murray Consultants, is run by two of the best-known PR men in Ireland. Founded in 1974 by Joe Murray and Jim Milton, Murrays has been the leading player in the business for over 20 years.
Its long list of clients includes a host of well-known Irish public companies such as Arnotts, Barlo, Golden Vale and United Drug.
But the firm is probably best known for Mr Milton's handling of Tony O'Reilly's public relations in Ireland, including both the Independent Newspapers and Arcon accounts and its expertise in crisis management.
Ryanair's dispute with its baggage handlers and the controversy over fee and interest loading at National Irish Bank are among the more high profile cases it has handled this year.
However, the firm's long dominance of the Irish PR business has been challenged of late by FHS. It has also poached four of Murray's senior staff, along with some of its clients, in recent months.
The firm also faces other challenges, most notably the legal action being taken by a former director of the firm, Mr Terence Horgan, who claims he was excluded from the company of which he was an equal partner. However, managing director, Mr Joe Murray, is optimistic about the future. He says Murrays wants to develop as an independent, Irish-owned entity and aims to double its size over the next three years. At present, Murrays employs 41 people, but declines to reveal its fee income.
