'True mould breaker' O'Shea grew agency from his kitchen into major organisation

BIOGRAPHY:FROM STARTING a Calcutta food programme in the kitchen of his home in Monkstown in Co Dublin in 1977, John O'Shea developed Goal into an aid agency which has spent more than €720 million in some 50 countries.

He was also a well-known sports journalist who worked for 24 years with the Irish Press Group.

He was yesterday described as a “true mould breaker” by Pat O’Mahony, the chairman of the agency’s board, who spoke of O’Shea’s “determination” to help the “poorest of the poor”.

O’Shea (68) was born in Limerick and spent his early years in Westport and Charleville.

He moved to Dún Laoghaire aged 11 due to his father’s job in the bank.

He is married to Judy, and they have two sons and two daughters – Stephen, Lisa, Karen and Johnny.

His daughters have worked at the charity he founded.

He worked as a clerk in a coal company and began studying by night at UCD.

He worked with the Simon Community for a year as well as with the Travelling community.

He used the contacts made in his career as a sports reporter and commentator in 1977 when he set up the charity from his home and began with a programme in India.

By 1992 the charity had grown to the extent he was able to leave the newspaper job and become full-time chief executive.

He was recognised with awards including People of the Year awards (1987 and 1992), and the Tipperary International Peace Award (2004).

Goal has become a major humanitarian organisation which has spent more than €720 million in programmes covering more than 50 countries.

Since its inception, more than 2,300 “Goalies” and thousands of local staff have worked for the agency. It currently has 164 employees and 2,700 staff working across 13 countries.

O’Shea became known for his passionate and outspoken opinions on the developing world, which attracted both admiration and ire.

He particularly spoke out against corruption among leaders of developing countries.

In a 2009 interview with The Irish Times he disputed the argument that aid buys leverage, insisting that “when people are brutal and callous and uncaring, they’re not going to change”.

He frequently expressed dissatisfaction with the response of international governmental organisations, institutions and agencies to humanitarian catastrophes.

“The whole aid programme and everything that has happened in my time has not been an overwhelming success. We have allowed – not deliberately – millions of people to die. We have allowed genocides, we have allowed huge famines. And the response of the international community has been pathetic,” he said in the 2009 interview.

Under his leadership and “driven by his compassion and determination”, the agency had grown to be a “highly effective and respected international aid organisation”, the agency’s board said yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, O’Shea thanked all those who worked with the organisation and who had donated to its work.

“I wish Goal continued success and I know that the organisation will remain true to its philosophy of bringing relief to those in greatest need – the poorest of the poor,” he said.

BOARD MEMBERS WHO'S WHO

Board chairman Patrick OMahony(67), is the former head of the Irish Medicines Board and was a member of management at the AIB Group.

James Henry Casey(71), an accountant, is a co-founder of Goal and was honorary treasurer for the charity's first 10 years.

Clíona Hartigan(36) is financial controller (Europe/Africa) with Atlantic Philanthropies and formery financial controller in India for Goal.

Hugh OFlaherty(45) is a barrister and a qualified accountant.

Vincent Hogan(52) has been chief sports features writer with with the Irish Independent newspaper for the past two decades.

Greg Curry(65) has worked for more than 35 years decveloping a broad range of projects for government agencies and private companies.

Tim Dalton(55) was secretary general at the Department of Justice from 1993 to 2004.

Brian McMahon(54) is a solicitor with a long-established practice in Naas, Co Kildare.

PJ Cunningham(56) is the former deputy editor of the Sunday Tribune and Evening Herald newspapers and former sports editor of the Irish Independent.

Tom Reddy(53) is a former journalist with the Irish Press group and Independent newspapers. He was head of press and research with Fianna Fáil and was also a ministerial adviser.

David Ringrose(44) is a qualified accountant working with Indpendent News and Media.