Sociability is key to Darragh's success

 Darragh Guinnane is a born salesman although had he followed in his parents’ footsteps he might have been in the hospitality business – but he’s not ruling that out if he ever gets tired of the insurance business.

He loves his job as an insurance broker and right now he is on a high having been elected as this year’s President of the Insurance Institute of Galway.

At 31 years, he is probably the youngest president they have ever had and by accounts he is a welcome choice because of his ‘can do’ attitude.

Within minutes of being in his company, it is also obvious that his warm personality and thirst for life draws people to him. If he has many of the traits of a salesman, he is also a born leader.

The eldest of three children born to Gerry and Martina, who used to run The Round Table restaurant in High Street in the 1980s, he is no stranger to business and remembers working there when he was still a schoolboy.

The restaurant attracted city centre workers who wanted a solid, home-cooked meal. In fact it was like a club as most of the customers got to know each other through the very hospitable Gerry and Martina and it was certainly a home away from home for workers.

It was also probably where Darragh first learned his own people skills as he can practically talk to just about anybody about anything.

“I do. I love people. One of the things I like best about this job is being on the road, meeting people, visiting clients. Some days I would have tea, scones and sandwiches in a few houses, one after the other.

Sure it would be rude to refuse,” says Darragh who admits he loves his food, quickly adding that he could do with getting fitter!

When he was still a teenager he helped run a family pub in Crusheen in County Clare for three summers in a row.

He tried college, studying Arts in NUIG, but dropped out after a year as it didn’t really float his boat. He preferred playing golf. He was a member of Athenry Golf Club for 17 years and did toy with the idea of going professional. While in college he organised a golf team which won the national inter-colleges title.

And like most of his peers, he thought about emigrating but he knew it would break his parents’ hearts, especially his mother’s so he got a job with Hibernian Insurance in Knocknacarra where he worked for three years in the claims department of Aviva.

A family friend who also worked in insurance told him he was wasted in claims and advised him to get into the brokerage side.

“Well, I did and I have never looked back. I love it here. I started first with Galway Hooper Dolan Insurance in 2004. I remember my first sale was to a publican in High Street and I was thrilled. I know a lot of businesses in the town from the time my parents ran their business there,” says Darragh and mischievously agrees that he does indeed have ‘the gift of the gab’.

Darragh now works as a commercial insurance broker with O’Leary Insurance based in Liosban. He joined that group five years ago and in December was made a director, one of four general directors in the company, led by Michael Tarpey, whom he describes as a mentor and whose experience in the field he respects.

“He has a great feel for the business because he has such experience. I have certainly learnt a lot from him and I do pride myself now on the fact that I seldom lose a client unless they go out of business. Once they are with us, they tend to stay with us because we believe in good service, a personal one.

“The business has certainly become very competitive, especially here in Galway and younger people coming into the business are finding it harder to get into it, as they have to sit exams and get accreditation. This is extremely onerous but it has to be done to regulate the business and ensure it is run professionally.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.