{{Short description|Irish communications and PR company}} {{Infobox company | industry = Public relations | hq_location = Dublin, Ireland | key_people = Terry Prone<small> (Chairman)</small>,<br />Anton Savage<small> (Director)</small>,<br />Eoghan T. McDermott<small> (Managing Director)</small> | website = {{URL|communicationsclinic.ie}} }}
The '''Communications Clinic''' is an Irish communications company on Adelaide Road in Dublin, set up by former employees of Carr Communications. The company's work involves public relations, interview and media coaching.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Mahony|first=Claire|title=Learning to talk the talk|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2011/0704/1224300030566.html|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=4 July 2011}}</ref>
== History == The company was set up by Terry Prone and Tom Savage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Keane|first=Conor|title=Carr Communications rocked by third top-level resignation in two weeks|url=http://www.examiner.ie/story/business/ojojojsnkf/rss2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521144040/http://www.examiner.ie/story/business/ojojojsnkf/rss2/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=19 February 2008}}</ref> Many other staff from Carr joined the business, including Hilary Kenny, Anton Savage and Gerard Kenny.<ref name="Carr break up - Indo">{{cite news|title=How the leading PR firm came asunder|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/how-the-leading-pr-firm-came-asunder-1307934.html|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=6 March 2006}}</ref> Tom Savage was formerly Chairman of the Board of RTÉ, having had an extensive career in public relations and media previously.<ref name="Bio: Tom">{{cite web|title=Biographies: Tom Savage|url=http://communicationsclinic.ie/bios.html#tomsavage|publisher=The Communications Clinic|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116224757/http://communicationsclinic.ie/bios.html#tomsavage|archive-date=16 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Terry Prone is currently the chairperson of the company.<ref name="Bio: Terry">{{cite web|title=Biographies: Terry Prone|url=http://communicationsclinic.ie/bios.html#terryprone|publisher=The Communications Clinic|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116224757/http://communicationsclinic.ie/bios.html#terryprone|archive-date=16 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, the company aimed to have over twenty employees.<ref name=Profits>{{cite news|last=Hennessy|first=Niamh|title=Communications Clinic records profit of €150,000|url=http://www.examiner.ie/business/kfcwcwgbkfmh/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217181232/http://www.examiner.ie/business/kfcwcwgbkfmh/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=16 June 2010}}</ref>
== Clients == The Clinic's portfolio includes the Gaelic Players Association,<ref name=GPA>{{cite web|title=Presentation and Communication Skills|url=http://gaelicplayers.com/gpa-presentation-skills|publisher=Gaelic Players Association|accessdate=1 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117071001/http://gaelicplayers.com/gpa-presentation-skills|archivedate=17 January 2012}}</ref> over fifteen "major corporate clients",<ref name=Profits /> and Sinn Féin. In 2011 they worked with presidential election candidate Gay Mitchell and worked with Taoiseach Enda Kenny for his State of Nation Address.<ref name="Nation Address">{{cite news|last=Sheahan|first=Fionnan|title=Enda may use 'Toy Show' slot for speech to nation|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/budget/enda-may-use-toy-show-slot-for-speech-to-nation-2947299.html|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=28 November 2011}}</ref>
== Controversy == In November 2011, The Communications Clinic was the subject of substantial media attention following the suicide of a former employee, Kate Fitzgerald. This came following an article printed in ''The Irish Times'', under the pseudonym "Grace Ringwood", printed on 9 September 2011 where she detailed her struggle with depression and work. It later emerged, in an article written by Peter Murtagh, that by this stage she had already committed suicide.<ref name=Murtagh>{{cite news|title=She radiated talent, energy, beauty. She took her own life at the age of 25|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1126/1224308160074.html|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 November 2011}}</ref>
Following the revelation that Kate Fitzgerald was an employee of the Clinic, the paper redacted the online version of her article.<ref>See p16 ''LEGAL REDACTION'' [https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2011/0909/Pg016.html ''The Irish Times'' 9 September 2011]</ref> Editor Kevin O'Sullivan apologised to the Communications Clinic, stating "the original piece were not factual. It is clear that their publication was significantly damaging to the staff and management of her employer, the Communications Clinic".<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Kevin|title=The Communications Clinic|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/1203/1224308526623.html|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=3 December 2011}}</ref> Following these events, Fitzgerald's parents said they felt "deeply hurt" by the paper's actions and a media debate ensued.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Shea|first=James|title=Irish Times and Fitzgerald family clash over suicide of daughter|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-Times-and-FitzGerald-family-clash-over-suicide-of-daughter-135821413.html?page=1|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=Irish Central|date=18 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Irish Times responds to criticism from parents of Kate Fitzgerald|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-times-responds-to-criticism-from-parents-of-kate-fitzgerald-306857-Dec2011/|accessdate=1 January 2012|newspaper=TheJournal.ie|date=16 December 2011}}</ref> The parents of Kate Fitzgerald brought a complaint to the ombudsman regarding the Irish Times article. The ombudsman upheld the complaint.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Finding on Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald and The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/finding-on-mr-and-mrs-fitzgerald-and-the-irish-times-1.1064134|access-date=2020-10-23|website=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.communicationsclinic.ie Communications Clinic home page]
Category:Companies of the Republic of Ireland Category:Public relations companies Category:Training companies of Europe