Tributes have been paid to Jo English, SailCork's administration and customer care manager who died earlier this month after a brief illness.
The Sunday Independent reports that the many tributes have included those from Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) admiral Annamarie Fegan, former marine minister Simon Coveney and former Water Safety Ireland chief executive John Leech.
The company which she ran with her husband, Eddie English, described her as “a strength and inspiration to a generation of sailors and powerboaters… and to the large team of instructors”.
As the newspaper reports, RCYC admiral Annamarie Fegan came from a similar catering background and had worked alongside her many years ago in the Blarney Park Hotel.
Jo English, née O’Connor, came from a farming family in Kanturk, worked in North America and Europe, ran her own restaurant in Mallow, and came to sailing late, like Fegan.
Fegan said she couldn’t believe the coincidence when she met up with her friend again after many years in the company of English.
Jo took to sailing, and to the administration and business management in SailCork, while rearing two children, Aisling and Eamonn.
The company benefited enormously from her skills, ranging from customer care to catering – particularly her ability to rustle up a four-course meal worthy of any top restaurant in the confined space.
As those who sailed with her recall, this was her forte during cruising holidays run by herself and her husband to the Canaries, Croatia, Galicia, Mallorca and her favourite destination – Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and Grenada in the Caribbean.
She was involved in open water swimming and in local tourism initiatives, and with her warmth and good humour she was mother not only to her family, but to many who worked and sailed with her.
Read The Sunday Independent here
