Miroslav Havel, who revived Waterford Crystal with Charles Bacik (grandfather of current Labour Party leader Ivana) in 1947, pictured with another man with gifted hands, Muhammad Ali, during an American tour in autumn 1984.

Founding chief designer of Waterford Glass until 1990, Miroslav, who came from the Czech Republic, started as the only employee of the re-born glass factory, whose first incarnation collapsed in 1851.

Duped by his compatriot’s promise of an established traditional industry and a warm climate, he set up shop in a tiny builder’s shed in an empty field at Ballytruckle, on the outskirts of an economically depressed city. Having only intended staying three months, but not allowed to return home under the communist regime, he started off making beer glasses but ended up helping to create a world-class brand as the company, under new ownership, moved operations to Johnstown and then Kilbarry.

Havel was so closely associated with the success of Waterford Crystal (as restyled) that from 1982–87 he regularly toured North American stores specialising in its products. Husband of Betty Storey from Hennessy’s Road, with whom he had six children, Miroslav (affectionately known as ‘Paddy’) died at his home in Grange Lawn in September 2008, aged 86.

With the New York Times among the publications to print his obituary, his legacy endures, much like the former Cassius Clay’s. ‘The Greatest’ was known to have a grá for luxury stemware and was a huge admirer of Havel’s artistry, which became much sought after in the USA from 1960 onwards as wine drinking became fashionable.

As George Foreman among others will attest, Ali, who died in 2016 aged 74, definitely didn’t have a glass jaw.