Interview with Mike Doyle

I have posted the interview with Nortel legend Mike Doyle. You can listen at
http://davesilke.podbean.com/

Enjoy
Dave

Interview with Gerry Cahill, former Director of technology

http://davesilke.podbean.com/

Click on this 10 minute interview with Gerry Cahill - hear about Kitty's Kitchen.

Interview with Dave Quane, MD, Nortel Ireland

Click here to listen to a 10minute interview with Dave Quane, current MD of Nortel in Ireland. Dave shares his memories and stories and reflects on his time at Nortel.

http://davesilke.podbean.com/

Media Coverage - Octobe 19th

Our "reunion and Ball" received some fantastic media coverage this week. The City Tribune ran a 2 page feature on Nortel in Galway and our celebration of 35 years in Galway this year.
The article featured interviews with Liam Bluett, Dave Quane, and Pete Kelly. I have attached a copy of the piece for any of you that missed the piece this week.

I'm battling with my conscious at the moment. I have a fantastic story to share but I made a promise that I wouldn't post the details on the blog or in this e-mail. So, I'm going to keep the specific details secret but share a flavour of the story.
I was traveling (in the UK) last week and was checking into a hotel at 8pm last Monday evening. As I approached the reception, the wonderful receptionist smiled immediately after I had given her my name. "I know you" she said. I wondered... How...

for a moment before she explained.

I was dumbstruck when she told me that she was a former employee of Nortel in Galway. She's on our former employee distribution list and has been getting all of the updates. A collegue of her's had been in touch about coming to the Ball and she had been undecided.
Over the past couple of days she has heard Liam's interview and then John Kavanagh's. She then heard some of the old names from her former "factory floor day"….AND…. So, on Sunday of last week, she bought 2 Ryan Air tickets to Shannon, arranged a babysitter, and herself and her husband are coming to the Ball.

That is just fantastic - and it will be fantastic to meet so many of you again in 2 weeks time - I've had so many e-mails and texts and it promises to be a very special occasion.

We now expect to hit (and exceed) the 450 attendee mark at the Ball. Please note that tickets must be bought by next Friday, October 24th. We need to keep this deadline to provide final numbers to the hotel and to complete the table plans. Details on purchasing tickets are below.
For tickets to the charity Ball: E-mail: charity@nortel.com
Phone: +353-91-733888.
Thanks to all
Dave

Great moments - John Kavanagh

Former customer services manager (amongst many other titles) John Kavanagh, spent some time sharing his memories of his 20+ years at Nortel. It's all here - just click to play.

http://boomp3.com/listen/c1qnc60r9_5/john-kavanagh

John somehow forgot to tell us about his "challenges" entering Russia and being captured in no-mans land in Geneva Airport? Your guess is as good as mine but John tells me he will share all at the "Ball".

dave

Memories from Liam Bluett

Liam Bluett, former Finance Director at Nortel Galway, shares some of his memories of his 20+ years with Nortel.

http://boomp3.com/listen/c1qkja8i7_7/liam-bluett

One of the memories that Liam didn't include on this clip was a great story about the Pope's visit to Galway.
It seems the finance and operations team at the time, in 1979, were doing an audit of the factory. The timing coincided with the Pope's mass in Ballybrit. The army and the guards were planning to close off all of Mervue for the mass and that would mean that the audit team would not have access to the factory during that time. That was going to cause some significant problems for the company, so, in ultimate corporate wisdom, one of the North American bosses asked Liam if he could give the Vatican a call to see if the Pope would reschedule his mass so that the team could get access to the factory. Needless to say "Young People of Ireland, I love you" went ahead.

Dave

And the Winner of the VIP Package....

The draw was made today for the former Nortel VIP prize. The winner will receive a free tux rental, overnight accomodation at the Radisson SAS, and a complimenary bottle of champagne.

And the winner is: Kieran Muldoon. Congrats Kieran - if you get in touch with us at charity@nortel.com we will send you on the details of your prize.

Audio recording of past memories - I'm meeting Liam Bluet this week to record some of Liam's past finance and arts festival memories. I will post this onto the facebook web site and also send the link to everyone on this list. In addition, Dave Quane, our current MD, will also be sharing his memories from his 20+ years of Nortel experience.
For those of you who have not yet purchased your tickets, the final date for purchasing tickets is Friday, October 24th. We need final numbers and confirmations at that point so that we can complete the table plans and provide the hotel with numbers.
Here are some more of the former employees (and long standing current ones) who are planning to attend the event:
Liam Bluett, Brian Hagan, Derek Collins, Aideen O'Colmain, Mike Conroy, Tim Hourihan, Austin Madden, Mary Madden, John Kavanagh, Joe O'Connor, Dave Quane, Declan Hanley, Trish Lydon, Alan Murphy, Colm Feeney, Tom O'Donoghue, Gerry Cleary, Anne Heskin, Wally Russel, Tom Waldron, Donal O'Murchu, Garry Kennedy, Ollie Daniels, John Jordan, Eamon Walsh, Brian Power, Conor Killeen, Jean Barrett, Pat Dennigan, Eamonn Hannon, Alan Kenny, Ciara Hartigan, Eimear Schumacher, Eimer Kelly, Pete McNally, Caroline Burke, Kieran Muldoon, and Marie O'Meara.
We also really appreciate our friends at Storm, KPMG, and CSC who have all purchased tables and will be attending with their friends. In total, we expect to welcome over 420 people on the night.

Sept 28th Update

Hello everyone. I wanted to provide a quick update. I have added a number of new photos onto the friends of nortel facebook page. Here is the specific link to the site but please remember that you have to log onto facebook (and join if you have not done so). Some of the recent inclusions include photos from Lionel Flanagan and Nortel competitors at the Aran Islands Half Marathon - Fintan, you look great….
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27151501530
From this week, and over the next 4 weeks until the Ball, I'm going to start adding audio clips from key former employees. I'll add these to the facebook web site and also send the clips to everyone to listen to….memories both good and bad so stay tuned.
Finally, remember, Sept 30th is the final date to enter our draw for a fantastic VIP prize on the night of the ball. It will be well worth entering - payment for tickets to the ball (or confirmation of attendance) must be received by September 30th to be in with a chance to win.
All of the posts are on the blog - and the link http://www.nortelgalway.blogspot.com/

Voices from the past - stay tuned

From next week - stay tuned for special "voices from the past" memory updated from former employees.

September 24

Hello all:
Here's the midweek update - thanks for the new e-mail addresses (added). Please continue to send them in - we now have close to 200 names of former employees on the distribution.
* I've added 5 new photos to the facebook web site today. Please check them out and feel free to join the group (friends of nortel galway). I'm sure some of the added photos will bring back memories….dancing (if that's what it is???), some of our former female employees, and some dodgy celebrations from the past - there will be plenty more on the night
* As a reminder, the deadline to win the VIP package for the Nov 1st Ball is September 30th. Please contact us at charity@nortel.com to reserve your tickets. We will post the winner on the blog/website on the morning of October 1st.
* I've added a special memoir to this e-mail. There may even be some of you who "applied" based on this advert. This photo is also on the facebook site.
* Ollie Daniels has just 2 bottles of champagne left for potential alumni ambassadors….we're looking to give your table a nice bottle of champagne, presented by Ollie on the night…so if there are a group of you out there, and can make a table of 10, let me know and I'll have a bottle on ice when you arrive.


PS: Tom Waldron, Donall O'Murchu, Eimear Schumacher, and Pete McNally - thanks for your confirmations on facebook and via e-mail to attend the ball. We're looking forward to seeing you all there.
Next update on Saturday.
Dave

Sept 20th update

e-mail address for tickets - charity@nortel.com

I have posted all of my updates onto the friends of nortel galway blog site http://nortelgalway.blogspot.com - I will also include this note.
So, log on and see if you have missed anything.
News update:(thanks to you all for sending the additional e-mail addresses…welcome to all of those just joining….and please keep them coming in. The distribution list is now over 150!!!!).
* The facebook web site has now well over 60 former Nortel employee members. There is a link on this site for information on the ball. Please continue to invite your friends and former Nortel collegues to join us in our virtual community. I won't bore you with the log on details but it's all on the blog (and we’ve even had some twittering….). Over 20 photos have been added to date - please check them out. More will be following.
* I've had a couple of requests for an update on ticket sales. Wow….as of this evening, we have firm commitments for over 400 tickets (421 to be exact). Ticket sales are coming from Western Alzheimers, Nortel employees, former employees (alumni), Nortel suppliers, and the general public.
* The entertainment line up has been completed - I'm not allowed to share all the details as the organising team want to keep it a surprise…but you should expect superb entertainment from the moment you arrive until the time you depart. Including band, dancing, intimate table singing…..+ some intense and atmospheric performances. I can't say more.
Most Importantly….
I wrote to 1200 former Nortel employees - in the letter we offered a superb VIP package to one lucky winner. In order to win this prize, we must receive payment for your tickets by Sept 30th. You can contact us at via e-mail at charity@nortel.com or send a cheque to Cathy Talbot at Nortel, Mervue Business Park, Galway. Cheques made payable to Nortel charity.
I also asked you for your memories of Nortel in Galway. We want to include these in a special History of Nortel Galway (given to all former employees who attend). If you have memories of your time at Nortel (one liners, funny moments, anything) please send them directly to me and we can incorporate.
And finally…..
I was at the market today (Saturday)…and I met Bridie….she sends her regards to all and promises to "assist" the chief on the night of November 1st. That was right after I met Aidan Collins…Aidan, I'm looking forward to seeing you both at the event.
Thanks
Dave
PS….the latest to purchase tickets for the ball include: Ciaran Kelly, Brian Power, Dara Hennessy, George Landers, Emer Kelly, Dave Murray and Sean Heneghan. And….thanks to our friends at KPMG and Storm for purchasing tables. Wonderful.

And...because I messed up

payment has to be received by Sept 30th. Send in payments to Cathy Talbot, Nortel, Mervue Business Park, Galway, and you are in with a chance to win.

VIP PRIZE - DEADLINE CLOSING

We sent out 1200 letters to former employees and told you that there was a super VIP package on offer if you had purchased your ticket by Sept 30th.
I'll share details on this package next week - to be in to win, you must contact us via e-mail at nortelcharity.com and payment has to be received by Sept 30th.
Send in payments to Cathy Talbot, Nortel, Mervue Business Park, Galway, and you are in with a chance to win.

Ticket sales update

I've been asked by a few people for an update on ticket sales. There are a number of other events happening at the same time so I wanted to let you all know how we are getting along. To date, as of September 20th, we have firm commitments for over 400 tickets (421 to be exact!!!). This is fantastic and I wanted to share the excitement from our charity - they are absolutely trilled. The ticket sales are coming from Western Alzheimers, Nortel employees, former employees (alumni), suppliers, and the general public. We are all looking forward to the night.

Sept 15th update

All
I have included another 20+ names and e-mail addresses from last week. Thanks to those who've sent more contact details in and please continue to send me any additional e-mail addresses for any former employees, suppliers, or anyone who has had contact with Nortel.
Do you know - who was the first ever employee for Nortel in Galway?
Did you know - 2008 is Nortel's 35th year in Galway. The team organising this event sent over 1200 letters to former employees across Ireland and around the world. The response has been fantastic - thanks to you all.
Dave Quane, MD Nortel, Ireland, appeared on the Keith Finnegan Show on Galway Bay FM on Friday. He spoke about our reunion, the November 1st event, and our efforts to support the new building at Merlin Park (for Western Alzheimers).
Congratulations to Tom Donohoe and Austin Madden - the first 2 winners of the Alumni Ambassadors Bottle of Champagne.
Austin Madden, formerly of Nortel/ESAT fame, has stepped up and will be joined at a table by members of the former ESAT account team.
We are also looking forward to the members of the finance team getting back together and rejoining. I understand that Liam Bluett is attending along with many members of the old team.
Ollie Daniels is still looking to give away 3 more bottles of champage on the night so please let me know if you can assist and confirm a table.
For those new to the list, I've left the details of my last note below - you'll be able to log onto the facebook group page and reconnect with many of your old friends. This group has now hit the 60 mark. You can also check out the new photos (well, old photos) which will jar some memories.
PS: Ken McGrath, Derek Collins, Liam Bluet and Caroline Burke were the latest to contact us and commit to attending. See you there.

September 12th

All
I'm sending this to the updated list (which numbers over 100 now) of Nortel alumni. Thank you all who have sent notes with contact details - please continue to send on e-mail addresses of former collegues so we can add to the distribution list.
As a reminder, Nortel in Galway is hosting a Charity Ball on November 1st in the Radisson Galway. All proceeds go to our charity Western Alzheimers. We are working to encourage as many former Nortel alumni to join us on the night where we will include a very special look back at our history and heritage in Galway.
Key News:
* My Request for today….there's a bottle of champagne on offer, presented to you by Ollie Daniels on the night, for 5 people who offer to be Alumni Ambassadors for the evening. Five of you who will committ to encouraging 9 of your former collegues to join you at a table for the night. We need the support of the group to ensure the evening is successful. All you have to do is reply to my e-mail and we will help you from there.
* MD of Nortel in Ireland, Dave Quane, will be on the Keith Finnegan show on Friday (Sept 12th) or Monday (Sept 15th) to speak about our reunion and the launch of the Ball. The Connaught Sentinel and the Galway Advertiser covered the Launch of the Ball in this week's editions.
* All Nortel and former Nortel employees who attend the Ball will receive an electronic copy of the history of Nortel in Galway - including memories of past and current employees. As a starting point, I’d ask you all to send me any memories or special moments that you would like to include.
* Our facebook group has expanded and hit the 50 member milestone today. This is fantastic and provides you all with an opportunity to reconnect to former friends and collegues. To join, log onto www.facebook.com , join, and then search for friends of nortel galway. Then join the group. We’ve added 5 more photographs today and more will follow tomorrow. In fact, Ollie Daniels and Austin Madden have commented on the 1970's car park photo…...
Between Nortel and Western Alzheimers, our chosen charity, we now have a commitment for over 300 people to attend the ball. To secure your ticket please contact us via e-mail at charity@nortel.com.
Thanks to you all and I look forward to seeing you on the night.
Dave

PS. Fintan O'Malley, Marie O'Meara, Kieran Muldoon, Austin Madden, and Eamonn Hannon were the latest to commit to attend the Ball. Fantastic and looking forward to seeing you all.

September 9th update

All
Many of you will have received a letter from me in relation to the reunion ball we are organising on November 1st in aid of Western Alzheimers. I have begun to collect e-mail addresses from old employees in an effort to make sure we let as many former Nortel Galway employees as possible about the event and the opportunity to get back together to meet old friends.
We have set up a web site on facebook. To access this, and see some of the old photographs, memories, and contacts for old friends, log onto www.facebook.com , register as a user, and then search for friends of nortel galway. Please then join us as a group and become a member. We would really welcome your memories and your old photographs.
I would also ask you all to send on any e-mail or contact details for any of your old friends at Nortel Galway so that I can add them to this distribution list and we can get as many people as possible to attend the ball.
Finally, to get tickets for the ball, please send us an e-mail to charity@nortel.com or call 091-733888. In addition to a fantastic night, all proceeds to go support Western Alzheimers.
Thanks you all and I look forward to hearing from you.
Dave

Photo caption

Gerry Staunton reliably informs me that the following are in the photo caption on the right.

Noel Clancy showing some cabling of what appears to be an SL-1 cabinet to the members of the Irish Board - Bill Simpson, President, NTIL, Northern Telecom International, the Lord Killanin, Chairman of NT Ireland, Herb Lank, an independent director of NT Ireland (and former CEO of DuPont) and Dr Hugh Hamilton, MD of NT Europe, while in the background is Pat Hogan and the Company Secretary, Nigel Martin from A&L Goodbody. I guess that was about 1979?

Coming back for the ball

Sean Twomey, Austin Madden, and Mary Madden got back in touch and will be attending the charity ball on November 1st

Welcome

Welcome to the launch of the Friends of Nortel Galway blog. This has been set up to capture your memories and comments from our 35 years in Galway.

We're looking forward to welcoming everyone back to our reunion at the Charity Ball on November 1st. If you want more information, send an e-mail to charity@nortel.com