THE FATHER of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary died yesterday at his home in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, after a short battle with cancer.
Ted O’Leary was originally from Kanturk, Co Cork, before he and his wife Ger moved the family to Mullingar in the 1960s.
His funeral will take place tomorrow after Mass at noon in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, followed by burial in Ballyglass cemetery.
In Mullingar he set up a woollen business called Tailteann Textiles, which closed in the early 1970s. He later set up a pet food business, which continues to operate from Clonmel.
A keen golfer, Mr O’Leary was captain of Mullingar Golf Club in 1968, and president in 2000.
Yesterday he was remembered by another former captain and president of the club, Matt Talbot, as a “great man who was very well liked”.
“He had a great sense of humour, he was great fun and great company as well,” Mr Talbot said, adding that members of the family, including Michael, would have gone out golfing with Ted at the club. “He was a great part of the club and he loved it.
“It’s a sad old day for us here and a great loss to the club . . . he’ll be missed in a big way.”
Michael O’Leary had credited his father with giving him the “disease” of a love for horse-racing, and he dedicated his two winners at the Cheltenham festival to his father, who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time.
Mr O’Leary died at the age of 77 following a short illness, which his death notice said was “bravely borne with dignity”.
He is survived by his wife Ger and six children – Ashley, Michael, Eddy, Caragh, Valerie and Ged – his 16 grandchildren, his sisters Mary, Kay and Ena, his brothers-in-law Charlie and Ivo, his nephews and nieces and his extended family.