Limerick barber remembered as leading figure in industry

A LOCAL towering figure in Irish barbering, Charles Hussey has been laid to rest today. Charles had his own barbers in Newcastle West for many years. 

His barber shop in Newcastle West was one of his favourite places. A safe haven for his favourite work, barbering, cutting, carving out shapes with clippers and razors, chatting with the locals, reading newspapers and watching German TV.

Charles' interest in barbering started from a very young age. As a boy he used to visit a barber shop near his primary school. He found the place fascinating; the sweeping up, the cutting of hair, the beard sculpturing, the singing of songs and listening to the chat.

He decided then and there that barbering was certainly the career path for him. Initially, Charles trained in Galway city with Christys in Eyre Square. The Galway Races were the highlight of the local barbering calendar; they were very busy with hot towel shaves for punters, jockeys and trainers and Charles loved every minute.

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For a new experience he moved to Dublin to Mooreheads and then on to London to progress his career more. He returned to Ireland for a short while and in 1964 won Irish Barber of the Year at the National Championships in Dublin. He was so proud of his achievement.

London called and he returned to work there again. He got involved with competition work and was a member of the English National Hair Federation executive committee for a while and a member of the Barber Squad. That prepared him for future competitions.

Charles moved further afield to France and finally on to Germany where he stayed for many years and where he continued his interest in competitions and went on to compete and win all over the continent.

In 1980 he returned to Ireland and in 1988 he joined the IHF executive committee for over two decades. In 1993 Charles won the Irish Men's National Championships Award. On the executive committee he fought relentlessly for the plight of the barbers in Ireland, the conditions, pay, standards etc.

Charles was the person who first introduced Ireland to the OMC - the World Hairdressing Organisation in 1994 and Ireland then became a member. In due course he got an Irish Men's Team together and became manager and trainer of Team Ireland for the forthcoming Men's World Championships. Irene Devereux joined him and went as manager, trainer of a Ladies team on that occasion.

For Charles, being part of OMC was an exceptional opportunity and it brought him all over the world as a jury member, to London, Washington, Las Vegas, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Vienna, Dublin and Belfast. He was a very good judge as he had a great eye for competition rule perfection. He was a stickler for fairness on the competition floor. Charles was also a super motivator
even with the Ladies Team Ireland which was managed and trained from 1999 by Maeve O'Healy-Harte.

Charles was always referred to as a gentleman. You only have to look at social media under the posts of his passing. He always encouraged both teams to progress and gave advice to those who needed it. They were forever grateful to have people like him believe in them and teach them to hone their skills and appreciated him giving up his time free of charge to help them with every aspect of their tests within the Championships. Team Ireland won over 200 medals gold, silver, bronze and many cups including the European Championship Cup.

Ireland were proud to be a host of the OMC International Championships in Dublin also. This wouldn't have come to fruition if that first step to connecting OMC by Charles many years before hadn't happened.

In 2000 in Berlin he was awarded the OMC Bronze World Medal of Achievement from the OMC and in Moscow in 2006 he was awarded the Gold World Medal of Achievement for his contribution to the barbering industry.

Charles completely left the IHF organisation with others and joined the Hairdressing Council of Ireland as they were working on an Apprenticeship, first for hairdressing then barbering. 

However, Charles' health was not on his side and then after the death of his dear Marlena, his health deteriorated more and eventually Charles had to give up his love of working in his safe haven in Newcastle West and move to Milbrea Lodge in Newport, Co Tipperary.

He still relied on all the Industry news from Maeve O'Healy-Harte, Bernard Breslin and Brian Hackett in the last few years which he always enjoyed. There was plenty of stories and laughter when remembering things that happened in the past and about present changes within the industry.

Charles will always be in the hearts of the people in the industry he loved so much.

Charles funeral service took place this Monday, January 19 at Shannon Crematorium.

Predeceased by his parents William and Agnus (Cork), sister Olive McNally, brothers Brendan and James and Charles' true love Marlene. Charles will be sadly missed by his son Stephen, Stephen's partner Aine, his grandsons Tom and Theo, brother Paul, nephews, nieces, extended family and especially his long life friends Maeve, Bernard, Brian and all of Charles customers and friends.

RIP Charles.