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Tributes to ‘The Boss’ Sean Coyne

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Tributes have been paid to the late Seán Coyne, a very prominent local businessman, who passed away last Friday.

The popular Mr Coyne was best known for his auctioneering and hotel businesses, but he also laid the foundation for what is now known as Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.

He was also a hugely charitable man and was a founding member of Kerry Parents and Friends.

In sporting circles he was a life long member of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club and served as its captain on two occasions.

“We are heart broken at the loss of our adored Dad and husband, and he has left a gaping hole in our lives as well as our hearts, not to mention the huge boots he has left for us to collectively fill. We will do our best,” his daughter Tracy told the Killarney Advertiser.

Sean’s requiem Mass took place on Bank Holiday Monday and was led by his brother, Fr Joe Coyne and concelebrated by Sean’s lifelong friends Fr Tom Clancy, and Bishop Bill Murphy alongside Frs. Kieran O’Brien, Paddy O’Donoghue, Tom Kearney and Tom Looney.

During the service Fr. Tom talked about Sean’s life achievement: “The connections he made, always in unity with his family, and the gentle and thoughtful space that Sean and Frankie created for their children, grandchildren and others, how Sean’s generosity of spirit and magnanimity were always evident in how he treated people.”

Fr Joe said “He thought big, there is no doubt about that, even from a youngster. I recall a time I received a green pound note, twenty whole shillings, in a letter home from his big brother 60 years ago after Sean left home to take up his first job delivering fruit. That was typical of Sean, a symbol from the very beginning of his working life, of his generosity towards others, the essence of Sean was that he always had the spirit and imagination to make things happen, to draw other people into his plans and projects.

Tony Darmody, former CEO of Kerry Parents and Friends said: “His wonderful leadership skills were so important and his business acumen helped to build the organisation into what it is today. Sean always had a great attitude and if he could ever do something to help then he would do it. He lived by the motto that if you haven’t anything good to say, then say nothing.”

Sean’s particular talent was to galvanise people into action and he was instrumental in the founding of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and he successfully convinced Bertie Ahern’s government to hold a Cabinet meeting in Killarney to show that the town was open for business following the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001,

“To say Sean Coyne did Killarney some service is a huge understatement. He was a larger than life personality with a great business acumen and his passing certainly marks the end of an era for Killarney,” said Niall Kelleher, president of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.

Sporting Life

Sean was a great golfer himself, and as a 14 year old won his first Captain’s Prize in his home club, Ballina

As a member of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club for 60 years, Sean represented Killarney in South, West and East of Ireland Championships, the Irish  Championship and he brought home the All-Ireland Barton Shield in 1980 with team mates Michael Guerin, James Loughnane, Arthur Spring, Brian Mulcahy and Derry Pine.

Having won the Dutch Amateur Open in the early 1990’s and shot no less than eleven Holes-in-One during his lifetime, Sean always considered his greatest golfing achievement was going on to represent Ireland as an International for seven consecutive years.

Sean’s fellow golf club members honoured their fallen colleague with a Guard of Honour which escorted Sean on his final journey from St Mary’s Cathedral as a still silence fell over the streets of his beloved Killarney.

The esteem he was held by employees was evident on Monday as Sean’s remains paused outside the International Hotel where a Guard of Honour comprising over a hundred staff stood in silence, before breaking into a resounding round of applause in a moving and heartfelt tribute to ‘The Boss’.

He will be sorely missed by his wife Frankie, daughters Lynda, Vicki, Tracy and Tanya and grandchildren Conor, Ana, Evie, Seán, Grace, Lucy Jayne, Rory, Max, Brían and Emily.

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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