Founder of Thérapie Clinics and Champion Sports, Paul McGlade, dies after short illness

Ellen O'Donoghue

The founder of Champion Sports, Optilase and Thérapie Clinics, Paul McGlade, has died aged 69.

The entrepreneur had a business career spanning over 50 years, and died after a short illness, according to a statement released.

Born in Belfast on June 12th, 1955, his working life began in the markets in Northern Ireland, where he developed an appetite for retail, and he moved to Dublin in the late 1970s, where he established Apollo, on Moore St.

Later, McGlade launched Champion Sports as the craze for all things sports related was taking off globally, and followed that up with creating Thérapie Clinic because he saw an opportunity in providing competitively priced massages and facials.

The first clinic opened on Molesworth St in Dublin over 20 years ago and the group now has over 75 clinics across Ireland, Britain and the US.

He leaves behind his wife, whom he married in 1981, and their four children, Paul, Phillip, Katie, and William. He also had six grandchildren.