IRISH RECRUITMENT entrepreneur James Kilbane died yesterday after a long illness.

Mr Kilbane was the co-owner of Grafton Employment Group, which he founded in 1982.

He was joined a year later by Ken Belshaw and they expanded Grafton into an international recruiter spanning 70 offices in 16 countries.

Mr Kilbane, who was born in Achill Island in 1947, retired from the business last April, after putting in place a new management team to lead the recruitmentcompany.

Commenting on Mr Kilbane’s death, Grafton’s group chief executive Jason Kennedy said: “James was a respected and well-loved entrepreneur with a keen eye for innovation and new business opportunities. He was among the first entrepreneurs to invest in central and eastern Europe following the fall of the Iron Curtain,” Mr Kennedy said.

Mr Belshaw said his former business partner would be remembered for his “professionalism”.

“His drive to succeed was an inspiration to many and his contribution to the Grafton Employment Group is simply immeasurable,” he said.

“He has left us with many treasured memories.”

Under Mr Kilbane’s leadership Grafton received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise twice – in 2002 and 2006.

In 2007, Mr Kilbane was a finalist in the International category of the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

Mr Kilbane is survived by his wife, Dr Paula Kilbane, and three children, Iarla, Caroline, and Jamie.