DES BRADLEY:Des Bradley, who has died aged 70, was the motor sport correspondent of The Irish Timesfrom 1963 to 1990. He chronicled the success of the breakthrough wave of Irish racing and rally drivers on to the world stage.
He was a lifelong motorsport enthusiast, competing in his first sporting trial in 1958 and his last just six weeks before his death – a full half century of competition.
He was a highly respected and influential member of the motorsport fraternity but was also a successful businessman who wove together a busy work schedule with a versatile sporting life.
Des Bradley was born in 1938 and grew up in Fortfield Gardens, Rathmines. He had one sister, Margaret. His parents were both national school teachers and he was a student at Synge Street CBS. There, he developed into a fine photographer and by age 14 had set up his own dark room in the coal shed in the back garden.
If it had wheels, he photographed it and by 15 his first picture appeared in a daily paper – a fallen tree crushing a car on Lower Rathmines Road. Thus began a lifelong relationship with newspapers.
In time he began writing race reports to accompany the pictures and his informative style and skill with words became readily apparent. In 1963 he started a weekly motor sport column in The Irish Times, concentrating on the ambitious new generation of young drivers. He reported in detail on Derek Daly's meteoric rise – from Formula Ford to Formula One in 18 months – and also that of David Kennedy, Michael Roe, Eddie Jordan and Tommy Byrne.
He was always approachable and well informed and wrote his Irish Timescolumns with care and style. He was a shrewd observer and shared his insight with his readers.
He was especially knowledgeable in rallying as an experienced competitor and he took special pleasure reporting on Billy Coleman’s victories on the European and world stage during the 1970s.
He was instrumental in a number of important developments in Irish motorsport. This was most notable in initial concept meetings with Stuart Cosgrave and Eddie Regan where the vacuum left by the abandonment in 1966 of Dunboyne (on safety grounds) and its possible replacement by a new greenfield track was discussed.
Shortly thereafter, in 1968, Naas landowner Jim Morrin joined Eddie and Stuart to set up Mondello Park.
Des was a successful and versatile competitor in many branches of the sport. In auto-testing he drove a Dellow (which became Dermot Carnegie’s first competition car) an NSU Prinz TTS, several MG Midgets and Minis to good results.
He was also an accomplished navigator, often guiding multiple Irish Rally champion Noel Smith, among many other drivers, in the 1960s and 70s. His unflappability and ready laugh made him an ideal and sought-after co-driver.
He competed in his first Circuit of Ireland in 1958 in a VW Beetle with Brian Kehoe (Carlow) and started no fewer than 15 circuits – then a major international event – and finishing 13 times. He competed with Paul Gleeson in the hot seat in Fiats, Vauxhalls and MGs.
The highlight of his rally-driving career was an excellent fourth-place finish in the Scottish rally of the snowy winter of 1964.
Weekends in the 1960s were often crammed with a night navigation event on Friday, a sport trial on Saturday and an auto test on Sunday – after which the unfortunate car might be lucky enough to get a quick wash before being used for work on Monday.
In later years, he competed in sport trials, or “mudplugs”, with his great friend Paul Gleeson, enjoying top grading for many years.
He will be remembered for his great attitude: he wanted to win and he worked hard but he would also take full enjoyment from every aspect of the event and have a ready laugh at the inevitable challenges of each section.
Des married Pat in 1965. She shared with him a love of motorsport and accompanied him to events far and wide – as did their children Bernard, Deirdre and Orla.
His business life started in 1956 when he joined the Electricity Supply Board but two years later he moved to the Caltex Oil Company. Another two years later, he joined Janus, an advertising company. In 1964, one of its clients, Kilroy Bros of Santry (importers of Bush TV), asked Des to join it – a role he ably fulfilled until opting to go it alone in 1970.
He started Print PR – later Print World Ltd – in Parnell Square. His attitude was that “nothing is a problem”. The business outgrew the premises and was moved to Dominic Street and subsequently to Palmerstown in 2004.
In the mid-1990s he eased himself into retirement and spent more time with Pat. They took up golf and became active members of clubs in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, and Rathfarnham, Co Dublin.
He fought a brave four-year battle with cancer, borne with his characteristic good humour. He died at home with the family he loved and is survived by Pat, Deirdre, Orla and Bernard.
- Des Bradley: born March 5th, 1938; died December 4th, 2008.