Billionaire Irish philanthropist Martin Naughton dies aged 87

Kenneth Fox

Glen Dimplex founder Martin Naughton has died aged 87.

Naughton (87) took ill while travelling in the United States with his wife Carmel, his family said in a statement.

He died a short time later at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle on Friday.

Naughton, who founded Glen Dimplex in 1973, was a well-known philanthropist through his work with the Naughton Foundation.

Glen Dimplex grew from just seven employees in 1973 to become one of Ireland’s largest privately-owned manufacturing businesses, with a turnover of some €1.5 billion, and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of domestic appliances.

He was also the co-owner of The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, along with the family of businessman Lochlann Quinn.

In 2015, Naughton was awarded a KBE from the then Prince of Wales. In 2016, he was a recipient of France’s highest national honour, the Legion d’Honneur, in recognition of his far-reaching work for peace on the island of Ireland.

Naughton and his wife Carmel were conferred the honour of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great by Pope Francis in recognition of their outstanding philanthropy in the areas of education and the arts.

“Though he received countless awards and accolades over a lifetime of achievement, his greatest pride and joy was his wife Carmel and their beloved family,” the statement added.

He is survived by his wife, Carmel, and children Fiona, Neil, and Fergal, as well as their extended family and many friends.

In a statement, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: "I am so very sorry to learn today of the passing of Martin Naughton.

"Martin was an exceptional businessman, an incredible philanthropist and an all-round thoroughly good human being. It was always an honour to be in his presence.

"He was witty, he was sincere, he was kind, and his loss will be felt immensely by so, so many, most particularly his family.

"As the founder of Glen Dimplex, he built one of Ireland’s great manufacturing success stories from a small operation into a global business. In doing so, he created and sustained thousands of jobs.

Beyond his business achievements, his and his wife Carmel’s philanthropy through the Naughton Foundation and their support for education, the arts, and peace on this island left a lasting mark on Irish life.

"His contribution will live on for generations and generations in our country, in his generous charitable work through the Foundation, the Naughton Scholarship, the contribution to education institutions, and of course, his brilliant business legacy."