HUNDREDS OF mourners yesterday attended the funeral in Slane, Co Meath, of one of Ireland's best-known pig farmers and businessmen, Jack Marry, who died on Friday last.
The late Mr Marry (64), who leaves a wife and six children, was regarded as the most successful pigmeat producer in the country and had extensive business interests.
Mr Marry, Proudfootstown, Dowth, Drogheda, at one stage owned four pig units but sold most of them following the foot-and-mouth crisis of 2001.
His farm straddled the Boyne river and in the 1990s he purchased the site of the Battle of the Boyne from the Coddington Estate for what was believed to be almost £1 million. He later sold the land to a consortium, which later sold the site on to the State to become a heritage site.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern officially opened the Battle of the Boyne site with the Rev Ian Paisley on May 6th this year. They jointly cut the ribbon at the opening of the memorial park.
Yesterday Fr Joe Deegan, in his homily in St Patrick's Church, spoke of Mr Marry's genius in resolving problems and said the suddenness and shock of his death raised questions, some of which might never be answered.
Mourners joined Mr Marry's widow, Rosemary; sons Gareth, Colin and Jonathan; and daughters Clodagh, Shona and Nicola for the burial in St Erc's cemetery following Requiem Mass.