Well deserved civic honour for Tipperary businessman
Mayor Molloy pays tribute to Aiden Barlow
Businessman Aiden Barlow was accorded a mayoral reception at Clonmel Town Hall recently.
Mayor Cllr Richie Molloy said the honour was given in appreciation of the contribution made by Aiden and other members of the Barlow family, have made to the commercial, industrial and business life of the town of Clonmel and surrounding areas.
Mayor Molloy welcomed Aidan and his wife Francis and said it was an honour that was long overdue.
He congratulated Aidan on his amazing life to date and said it was amazing how Aidan had went from literally a blank sheet of paper at one stage to creating 13 modern factories across Europe employing in excess of 2,000 people at one stage.
Mayor Molloy also said the Barlow family had contributed enormously to the town of Clonmel both economically and politically, especially remembering Aidan's late sister Carrie ,who was a former Mayor of Clonmel and a former member of the Oireachtas and another sister Trass Honan who was the first Cathoirleach of the Senate.
In reply Aidan spoke about his lifetime experience in both engineering and his personal life .
He married his wife Frances in 1959 and moved into a house in Abbey Road , he spoke about how he invented his own washing machine and installed central heating in their house which he remarked was probably the first house with central heating in Clonmel at the time .
In attendance on the night were a large attendance of the Barlow family and former employees of Barlo Radiators.