Business - Christmas 1983

IRELAND'S LARGEST restaurant, Blakes of Stillorgan, was opened on Tuesday night, November 22 1983, by the Right Honourable Mr Michael Keating TD, the Lord Mayor of Dublin. He presented a cheque to the Hon Mr Justice Niall McCarthy, Chairman of the National Association for the Deaf who accepted it on behalf of St Mary's School for the Deaf.

The directors and staff of Blakes provided the restaurant facilities to the Friends of St Mary's, who sold tickets for a special dinner for over 280 guests, and these proceeds were donated in full to St Mary's, compliiments of Blakes. In total over £3,500 was raised for the charity.

The emphasis in Blakes will be on quality food at a price which represents good value for money in a pleasant environment. An extensive refurbishhment of the restaurant has been underrtaken which has greatly improved the ambience for dining, while the kitchens have been redesigned with the very latest equipment to achieve a standard of hygiene which is second to none. In addition to the restaurant proper, a separate area is designed for a Pizzeria and Ice Cream Parlour. There will also be a wine bar with a facility for take-home wine sales.

Mr Gerry Stevenson, managing director of Blakes said: "We are confident that our formula for value for money for a pleasant evening out will be a winner. Blakes will be serving a large area in Stillorgan and surrounnding areas like Blackrock and Dunndrum, areas which up to now did not have a comparable restaurant to enjoy. Our different menus will be very attractive to families, businessmen and couples alike."

Mr Gerry Stevenson was previously Director/General Manager of the Thomas Lydon Bakery and Restaurant group of companies in Galway. '

The telephone number for Blakes is 887678.

THE CANADA Life Assurance Co first came to Ireland in 1903. Today it operates branches throughout the country. All of them a market success. The Terenure branch was opened in 1980 under the management of Rory McMahon with a staff of four. Now three years later and a staff of 17 the fledgling branch has captured one of the most prestigious of Canada Life in-company awards - The General Managers Autumn Challenge Trophy ðfor the largest volume of sales of any branch which encompasses Great Britain and Ireland.

Making the presentation Mr J .C. Cowan, Vice President and General Manager, stated that this was his first time to award the trophy, having only assumed office in March of this year.

Another first is the leading producer of the winning team, Mr Kai Chen whose contribution to the sales succcess has been phenomenal.

DEMPSEYS Brewery in Dublin may not be the biggest in the business but don't let that put you off. Although less than two years old, the Inchicoreebased brewery is quickly proving that small can be successful when it comes to brewing and selling traditional ale in the capital.

Publican Liam 0 'Dwyer, one of the small group of businessmen who set up the brewery in the summer of 1982, was always confident that there was a market for real ale among the Dublin drinking public.

Dempseys real ale is already on sale in about 50 Dublin pubs, and Mr O'Dwyer intends to double the nummber of outlets over the next few months.

He says: "We are already producing 450 kegs of ale a month - enough for 32,000 pints - and there is a clear indication of a sizeable swing back to real ale in Dublin drinking circles."

With the changes of management at the brewery comes an improved beer - a smoother, more mature pint that has been produced from a new recipe

Mr Liam O'Dwyer, the new managing director and major shareholder of Dempseys Brewery, pictured with some of the brewery staff and test-marketed among Dublin's real ale drinkers.

Investment in new equipment and casks means that Dempseys has more 'bite' and can be handled more easily by barmen, reducing the risk of a cloudy pint.

Real ale is a naturally brewed beer and nothing is added to give it an artiificially foamy head.

SUBSEQUENT TO the highly successful promotion 'Best Dressed Lady at the Horse Show' sponsored by Brown Thomas, George McCullagh, Managing Director Brown Thomas, while speaking to the winner of the 4th prize realised that this lady is Olive Murray, a highly talented versatile artist specialising in portraits, landscapes and still life. Brown Thomas are presently exhibiting her art collection at the Art Gallery, 1st floor, Brown Thomas.