Charles Bacik (Czech: Karel Bačik; 25 June 1910 – 11 July 1991) was a Czech-Irish glass manufacturer and co-founder of the modern Waterford Glass.[1]
Charles Bacik | |
|---|---|
| Karel Bačik | |
| Born | 25 June 1910 |
| Died | 11 July 1991 |
| Relatives | Ivana Bacik (granddaughter) |
Biography edit
He was born in Nová Říše in Bohemia, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He went on to study and graduated from Charles University in Prague, and began working in Bohemian glass manufacturing in Světlá nad Sázavou in 1935. By the time of the Communist takeover, he owned four glass factories.[1]
During World War II he was imprisoned by the Nazis.[2]
In 1946, as his factories were nationalised, he emigrated to Ireland. In 1947, in partnership with a Dublin gift shop owner, Bernard Fitzpatrick, he started Waterford Glass. In 1950, the company was in financial difficulties and he ceded ownership to the Irish Glass Bottle Company. He continued to work for the company as a manager until 1974 and as a board member until 1984.
He died in 1991 at Rathmore House, Fiddown, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1][3][4]
His granddaughter, Ivana Bacik, is an Irish politician and academic.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Cox, Catherine (24 July 2010). "Charles Bacík 1910-1991". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Dublin Bay South by-election: Fine Gael complains to RTÉ after Ivana Bacik's TV appearance three days before by-election". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ Hearne, John M. (5 November 2018). Waterford Crystal: The Creation of a Global Brand. Merrion Press. ISBN 9781785371837. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Rathmore House, Fiddown, Kilkenny - Purcell Properties - 4712286 - MyHome.ie Residential". myhome.ie. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
Sources edit
- Brian F. Havel, Maestro of Crystal, Currach Press, 2005, biography of Miroslav Havel, a glass designer who worked with Bacik both in Czechoslovakia and Ireland.
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