Mr Niall Crowley, the well-known Dublin businessman and former chairman of Allied Irish Banks, died yesterday afternoon after an illness. Mr Crowley, who was 72, was seen by many as an influential figure who was at the fore in modernising Irish business.
Born in Dublin and educated at Xavier's School and Castleknock College, Dublin, Mr Crowley joined the family accountancy practice, Kennedy Crowley, and, in 1944, became an articled clerk at the firm.
When he and his brothers, Conor and Laurence, inherited the firm which was to evolve into KPMG/Stokes Kennedy Crowley, it had just three partners and 50 staff. By 1989, that had increased to 45 partners and 700 staff.
"We decided to push it to the parameters it could reach. It involved a large investment in people, but we had to open out the firm," he said at that time.
In 1974, he was appointed chairman of the State-owned Irish Life assurance company and became chairman of Allied Irish Banks in 1977.
After 12 years at AIB, Mr Crowley stood down as chairman at the end of 1989. He held a number of other positions, including deputy chairman of Britain's Alliance & Leicester building society - a position he held up to recently - chairman of Cahill May Roberts, president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
He also received honorary doctorates from the National University of Ireland and the University of Maynooth.
Last night, AIB's chief executive, Mr Tom Mulcahy, said he had learned of Mr Crowley's death with deep regret. He described him as an active man with a positive approach to business, who had been a "tremendous contributor to the bank for many years."
Mr Crowley is survived by his wife Una, five sons and one daughter. The removal will take place this evening to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, arriving at 5.30 pm, with the funeral tomorrow after 11 a.m. Mass.
