15/11/2025
Joe McHugh- Our colleague, our mentor, our friend
“Are you well and happy?”
On the 5th of November 2025, our much-loved colleague Joe McHugh passed away. Widely known in Ireland and internationally as both a chef and a food safety expert, Joe leaves a deep void in our association and our hearts.
A founding member of the FSPA, Joe shaped our training centre from the very beginning. For more than twenty years, he was the foundation beneath our work, solid, constant, and very dependable. He never sought the spotlight; he preferred to stay in the background, quietly making sure everything was done to the highest standard.
His integrity as a food safety professional was unwavering. Joe carried food safety legislation in his bones; he could recall the relevant regulation, clause and sub-clause almost verbatim. It wasn’t just expertise; it was a lifetime of commitment to doing things properly, guiding others with clarity, patience, and total precision, always to help, never to impress.
Joe was also a born educator, patient, methodical, and wonderfully detailed. He had a gift for making the complex simple, and he believed deeply in arming his clients and colleagues with the tools they needed to navigate the world of food safety with confidence. A true people person, Joe taught with kindness, respect, and a quiet belief in the potential of others.
Joe's ready smile made people feel at ease. He shared knowledge without hesitation, supported others instinctively, and left every room better than he found it. To us, his FSPA family, he was the oracle, the listening ear, the calm voice, the encourager, and the steadying hand. Above all, he was kind.
This kindness was evidenced in the magnificent tributes paid to Joe at his funeral service. A beautiful service celebrating a beautiful man who gave so freely to his local community, where his presence was woven into daily life. Joe always showed up….with generosity and a smile.
Our dear friend, we will miss you greatly. We know you will be
“Well and happy” in your next chapter.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis- Your devastated FSPA Family.
Sincere condolences to Judy and all of Joe’s family.
