TRIBUTES WERE paid yesterday by business and political figures to the former chairman of the Cork Airport Authority and Apple Ireland supremo Joe Gantly, who died suddenly at his home in Cork early yesterday at the age of 53.

A native of Dublin, Mr Gantly joined Apple in 1990 and eight years later he was appointed managing director of European operations for the company. He oversaw its transformation in Cork from a manufacturing location to a fully integrated operations centre.

Mr Gantly resigned from Apple in October 2004 and established consultancy firm JG Consultancy. He was also actively involved in the boards of a number of technology companies including serving as chief executive of Cork-based hi-tech company SensL.

Mr Gantly was appointed chairman of Cork Airport Authority (CAA) in 2003 but resigned from the post in 2008 shortly after using his casting vote to steer the board into accepting a €113 million debt on its new terminal building to obtain independence from the Dublin Airport Authority.

Yesterday Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin led the tributes to the late Mr Gantly, saying he had found him to be “very positive and creative with a real entrepreneurial flair” as he extended his sympathy to his wife, Mary, and children Seán, David and Niamh.

Mr Martin said Mr Gantly had transformed Apple in Ireland by moving it away from a reliance of assembly to a multi-function role within the corporation which had helped secure its survival in Cork. He also did some “fine work” with emerging technology firms.

Tributes were also paid by Dublin Airport Authority chief executive Declan Collier, who described Mr Gantly as “a committed professional”, while his successor as CAA chairman Gerry Walsh said he had made a tremendous contribution to the airport and Cork during his tenure.

Mr Gantly had only stepped down as president of the Cork Chamber on Monday night following a two-year term. Yesterday his successor Ger O’Mahony paid tribute to him for his contribution to his adopted city. “Joe made an immense contribution to this city and region and his death at the age of just 53 robs us all of an extraordinary talent and commitment which enriched Cork and this chamber, which he served as president for the past two years.”

Mr O’Mahony noted Mr Gantly’s service as chairman of the CAA as well as a board member of the Tyndall National Institute and as the chamber’s representative on the governing body of UCC.