Feargal Quinn was an Irish businessman, politician and television personality.
17 Facts About Feargal Quinn
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Feargal Quinn founded the Superquinn supermarket chain and served as a Senator for the National University constituency from 1993 to 2016.
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Feargal Quinn was a first cousin of Labour Party politician Ruairi Quinn and of Lochlann Quinn, former chairman of Allied Irish Banks.
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Feargal Quinn was married to Denise, daughter of Ned and Grace Prendergast, and they had five children.
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Feargal Quinn lived in the Baily area of Howth near Dublin, near the former head office of the Superquinn chain at Sutton.
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Feargal Quinn built a career in business and later took on a range of public service roles.
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Feargal Quinn founded the national supermarket chain, Superquinn, in Dundalk in 1960.
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Feargal Quinn introduced a number of innovations to the Irish supermarket sector, including Ireland's first supermarket loyalty card in 1993, SuperClub.
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Feargal Quinn was replaced as chairman but remained as non-executive President.
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Feargal Quinn is a former President of EuroCommerce, the Brussels-based organisation which represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe.
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Feargal Quinn was first elected as a senator in 1993 from the National University constituency and was re-elected in 1997,2002,2007 and 2011.
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Feargal Quinn was a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service and was an Oireachtas member of the National Economic and Social Forum, along with the Joint Committee on Jobs and Innovation.
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The proposals contained in several of his other Bills were implemented; for example, in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries Bill 2003, Feargal Quinn sought to bring an end to the 'passports for sale' scheme.
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In 2014, Feargal Quinn revealed that since being first elected to Seanad Eireann, he had donated his entire salary to charity and in more recent years he had refused to accept any salary.
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Feargal Quinn wrote Crowning the Customer, which has been translated into many languages, as well as Mind Your Own Business.
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Feargal Quinn was the recipient of five honorary doctorates from education institutions, a papal knighthood along with a fellowship and the French Ordre National du Merite.
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Feargal Quinn shared with Oprah Winfrey the 2006 "Listener of the Year" award of the International Listening Association.