Hopkins Communications, PR and Advertising Company, Cork

Leading a team of young professionals, Mark has relished the role of Managing Director since taking over in 2005.  Introducing new products and services to clients, Mark is continuously proffering fresh ideas covering all media, including press, radio, outdoor, ambient, on-line, traditional and non-traditional.

Working in tandem with the public relations, event management and promotions team, he is adamant that the full complement of services can, and should be, de rigueur for any serious communications agency.

‘We make it easy for our clients. They want a media mix without having to deal with too many people. We give them the whole shebang – media buying, graphic design, event management, public relations, marketing and promotions –all at cost-effective rates.  At this stage we are one of Munster’s largest agencies with an extensive client base in several categories’ Mark said.

A Degree in Science (BSc) from University College Cork proved to Mark that he is not, despite this challenging feat, your typical scientist, but, a people person. He joined Hopkins Communications straight from college, but we all know now that this was just a wee rest before he took his ‘year out’ in Australia before returning to ‘the real world’.

Back in Ireland eventually, he joined Golden Pages (now an important agency for Hopkins Communications) in Dublin, moving back to Cork later to join Pfizer Ireland as a Medical Representative, serving GPs in the Munster area. Finally, when Mary ‘the Mother’ decided to change down a gear (we’ll believe it when we see it!) he took the reins as Managing Director and the rest, my friends, is history.

Mary Hopkins founded Hopkins Communications from scratch in 1990 and, fair dues to her, has built up a fine business. We all bow to her local knowledge – she knows everyone, and she is never off duty. She wants us all to follow suit and we do our best – but we draw the line at fact-finding to Doctor Pressure at Havana’s on Friday nights!

We wonder where she gets her energy though, and how she keeps all the balls in the air – between her Board Membership at Cork City Enterprise Board, her involvement in several Chamber of Commerce committees, her pps (not Parish Priests – Past Presidencies – duh!) at the Publicity Club and Network Businesswomen’s Organisation, Rotary Club of Cork etc etc – we’re exhausted watching her!  

While she has high standards she, too, has a life – she takes lots of time off every summer (grrrrrrrrrrrrr) and you could find her on a bike in Tory Ireland or on the water in West Cork chasing elusive dolphins.   

But, as a proud native of Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick, and a farmer’s daughter to boot – she’s very down to earth, thank God.

Mary’s past lives include those as a banker, a Golden Girl (Golden Pages to you), a radio station saleslady, and an outdoor advertising medium owner, finding her niche in advertising and pr when she founded Hopkins Communications all those years ago.

For posterity she is a member of the PRII (Public Relations Institute of Ireland) and The Marketing Institute – it’s good for business and she’s very proud to have been appointed to the Governing Body of University College, Cork, by the Minister for Education.

Director: Dave Hopkins
Agency Sales Manager: Donogh O’Herlihy
Account Manager – New Media: Judy Hopkins
Account Executive: Kathleen Harrington
Senior Graphic Designer: Nollaig Henry
Customer Service Executive: Agata Goraus
Financial Controller: Finbarr Harrington
IT: Dave Devlin
Promotional Staff: Over 100 part-time staff