Liam Connellan, the former director general of Ibec’s forerunner the Confederation of Irish Industry (CII), has died, his family have announced.
Mr Connellan died on Tuesday at Newtownpark House in Blackrock, surrounded by his family.
Having come from the Irish Management Institute in 1972, in the wake of the Staines air crash which caused the death of 12 Irish business leaders, Mr Connellan led the confederation through transformational change over two decades.
His 20-year tenure coincided with Ireland’s entry into the European Union, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the merging of CII and the Federation of Irish Employers (FIE) to form Ibec in 1993.
Paying tribute to Mr Connellan’s “pivotal role” in the development of the CII, Ibec extended condolences to his family and friends in a statement on Thursday.
“A proud native of Roscommon and alum of the University College Dublin, he lifetime contribution and passions were ones of a true patriot. The term most used to describe Liam was ‘gentleman’, which is more than apt. He made Ireland a better place in all that he did, he will be remembered for that ‘so long live this, and this gives life to thee’,” it said.
“Dearly beloved husband of the late Marie”, he is survived by his children Rachel, Paul, Brendan, Liam and David, siblings Rita, Seamus, Dermot and Mary, and grandchildren.
Reposing Friday in Quinn’s Funeral Home, Glasthule from 3.30pm, with removal to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Foxrock arriving for 5pm. The funeral is on Saturday after 10am mass, which can be viewed on www.churchservices.tv/foxrock, to Shanganagh Cemetery.
