Communications Clinic
An Irish communications consultancy providing public-relations, media-training, and interview-coaching services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Communications Clinic is an Irish communications consultancy based on Adelaide Road in Dublin. It was established by Terry Prone and Tom Savage, both of whom had previously been associated with Carr Communications. A number of Carr employees also moved to the new business, including Hilary Kenny, Anton Savage, and Gerard Kenny, giving the Clinic an experienced base in public relations, media work, and communications training. The company’s services include public-relations advice, interview coaching, and media coaching. Its work is directed at organizations and public figures that need help preparing for media scrutiny, communicating positions, or presenting themselves effectively in interviews and other public settings. The available reference material identifies the Gaelic Players Association and more than fifteen major corporate clients among its clients. The Clinic also worked for political figures and parties, including Sinn Féin, presidential-election candidate Gay Mitchell in 2011, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny in connection with his State of the Nation Address. Tom Savage brought a substantial public-relations and media background to the firm and had previously served as chairman of the board of Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ. Terry Prone is identified as chairperson of the company. In 2010, the business stated an ambition to grow its workforce to more than twenty employees, indicating that it had developed beyond a small founder-led consultancy by that point. Communications Clinic received significant public attention in November 2011 in connection with the death by suicide of former employee Kate Fitzgerald and an Irish Times article published under the pseudonym “Grace Ringwood.” The article, published on 9 September 2011, described the writer’s depression and difficulties at work. It later emerged that Fitzgerald had already died by suicide. After her employment by Communications Clinic became known, the newspaper redacted the online version. The Irish Times editor apologized to the company, saying that the original article was not factual and had caused substantial damage to the Clinic’s staff and management. Fitzgerald’s parents criticized the newspaper’s handling of the matter, and the resulting public debate also led them to complain to the press ombudsman. The ombudsman upheld their complaint. The episode remains the principal controversy associated with the brand in the available reference material.
History
Communications Clinic was founded in Dublin by Terry Prone and Tom Savage, former employees or associates of Carr Communications. The new firm also attracted other people from Carr, including Hilary Kenny, Anton Savage, and Gerard Kenny. This recruitment helped establish the Clinic as a specialist Irish communications business with expertise in public relations, media relations, and communications training. The firm operates from Adelaide Road in Dublin. Its stated work includes public-relations consultancy and coaching clients for interviews and media appearances. These services place the company in the professional-services sector rather than in consumer branding: its clients engage it to shape messages, prepare spokespeople, manage public presentation, and navigate press attention. The available account refers to a portfolio containing the Gaelic Players Association, more than fifteen major corporate clients, and Sinn Féin. The Clinic also undertook assignments involving prominent Irish political figures, including Gay Mitchell during the 2011 presidential election and Taoiseach Enda Kenny for his State of the Nation Address. Tom Savage was described as having an extensive prior career in public relations and media and had served as chairman of RTÉ’s board. Terry Prone is identified as the company’s chairperson. By 2010, Communications Clinic was aiming to employ more than twenty people, suggesting a period of expansion and a scale larger than a small independent consultancy. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes the exact founding year, legal ownership structure, current workforce, later corporate changes, or present operating status. The company’s most documented controversy occurred in 2011. On 9 September that year, The Irish Times published an article under the pseudonym “Grace Ringwood.” The piece described the writer’s experience of depression and work-related difficulties. It later became known that the author was Kate Fitzgerald, a former Communications Clinic employee, and that she had already died by suicide. After the connection to the Clinic was reported, the newspaper removed or redacted the online version of the article. Editor Kevin O’Sullivan apologized to Communications Clinic, asserting that the original piece was not factual and had caused serious harm to the company’s employees and management. The handling of the article generated a wider media and ethics debate. Fitzgerald’s parents said that they were deeply hurt by the newspaper’s actions and submitted a complaint to the relevant press ombudsman. The ombudsman upheld the complaint. The controversy is documented primarily as a dispute over the publication, factual accuracy, redaction, and treatment of the deceased writer’s family; the supplied reference does not establish a finding that Communications Clinic itself committed a legal or regulatory violation. Beyond this episode, the available material provides only limited information about the firm’s later history, campaigns, products, or corporate development.
- 2011
Political communications assignments
[1]The Clinic works with presidential candidate Gay Mitchell and with Taoiseach Enda Kenny on his State of the Nation Address.
- 2011
Irish Times article controversy
[1]The company becomes the subject of public attention after an article by former employee Kate Fitzgerald is published under a pseudonym and later redacted.
- 2010
Workforce expansion target
[1]The company aims to grow its workforce to more than twenty employees.
Communications Clinic is established in Dublin
[1]Terry Prone and Tom Savage establish the consultancy, with several former Carr Communications employees joining the new business.
Products and positioning
An Irish specialist communications consultancy focused on public relations, media handling, and coaching clients for high-stakes interviews and public communication.
Professional services
Public-relations consultancy
Strategic communications and public-relations advice for corporate organizations, associations, political actors, and other public-facing clients. The available reference identifies a portfolio including the Gaelic Players Association, more than fifteen major corporate clients, and Sinn Féin.
Communications training
Interview and media coaching
Preparation designed to help clients handle interviews and communicate effectively with journalists and other media outlets. The source describes interview and media coaching as core elements of the Clinic’s work, but does not provide a detailed curriculum or named training package.
Controversies
2011
Kate Fitzgerald and The Irish Times article controversy
After The Irish Times published an article under the pseudonym “Grace Ringwood,” it emerged that the author was former Communications Clinic employee Kate Fitzgerald, who had died by suicide before publication. The newspaper redacted the online article and apologized to the Clinic, while Fitzgerald’s parents complained to the press ombudsman. The ombudsman upheld their complaint. The supplied material describes a media and press-ethics controversy and does not establish wrongdoing by Communications Clinic.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Gay Mitchell presidential-election communications
Ireland
Communications Clinic worked with Gay Mitchell during his campaign for the Irish presidency.
- 2011Enda Kenny State of the Nation Address
Ireland
The Clinic provided communications support to Taoiseach Enda Kenny in connection with his State of the Nation Address.
Recent events
- 2011
Communications Clinic works with Gay Mitchell during 2011 presidential election[1]
Campaign
The consultancy worked with presidential-election candidate Gay Mitchell during Ireland’s 2011 presidential election campaign.
- 2011
Communications Clinic supports Enda Kenny State of the Nation Address[1]
Campaign
The Clinic worked with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in connection with his State of the Nation Address.
Sources1 sources
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