The death has taken place of Mr Tom Roche, the founder of Roadstone and one of the foremost entrepreneurs of his generation.

Mr Roche, who was 83, died peacefully on Thursday in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and was buried yesterday at a private funeral.

He is survived by his children, Maura, Eleanor, Tom and Claire.

Mr Roche was the leading figure behind the creation of Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH), was a former chairman of and shareholder in Bula Mines, and was the main figure behind the East Link and West Link toll bridges.

The success of the toll bridges led to the creation of the hugely successful National Toll Roads Ltd, of which Mr Roche's son, Tom, is now chairman.

Educated at CBS Westland Row and Blackrock College, Mr Roche first entered business at the age of 16, when he ran a small coal and sand operation based in Inchicore, Dublin, which had three employees and a 1.5 ton truck.

In 1944 he established the Castle Sand Company, which was involved in the gravel business.

In 1949 Roadstone was launched as a public company, and run and developed by Mr Roche and his brother Donal.

In 1970 Roadstone was merged with Cement Ltd, forming CRH. The first chairman of the merged entity was Mr Sean Lemass.

The company is now the fourth-largest company on the Irish Stock Exchange.

Mr Roche retired as chief executive of CRH in 1974, to be replaced as chief executive by Mr Jim Culliton, but remained on the board of CRH as a non-executive director until he was 70.

Upon his retirement as chief executive of CRH, Mr Roche began work on the East Link project. The project was completed in 1984 and was a huge commercial success. The West Link followed in 1990, and has also proved hugely successful.

Mr Roche was a shy, private man, according to colleagues. He gave few media interviews.

His wife, Florence, died three years ago.