Mayo islander Olof the voice of Europe on US tariffs controversy

A MAN who grew up on Clare Island is the voice of Europe as the EU bloc responds to the much feared US tariffs.

Olof Gill has won many kudos so far for his performance as European Commission trade spokesperson.

One online verdict on his media interviews so far is that he is ‘clear, concise and decisive in his replies’.

The commenter wrote approvingly: “This is exactly what is needed in the face of Trump terrorising by tariffs.”

Former TD and government minister Liz O’Donnell has predicted that Mr. Gill ‘will be a household name very soon as Europe responds to US developments’.

Olof Gill’s mother, Anna, is a native of Sweden while his father, Peter, is from Cork.

The couple fell in love with Clare Island in 1978. Afterwards they purchased the local lighthouse.

Olof, the eldest of a family of three – he has two brothers Bjorn and Eric – received his early education locally and later at Villiers College, Limerick, and UCC, where he completed an undergraduate degree in European Studies and French.

His professional career has been meteoric. He rose from being a reporter in Brussels to the role as an assistant to former Irish MEP Marian Harkin, to leading positions in the European Commission.

Last year he landed the highly prestigious post as European Commission trade spokesperson.

Despite his busy and exciting life in Brussels, Olof says he misses Clare Ireland and visits as often as he can.