Former Labour Court chairman Finbarr Flood dies aged 77

Former chairman of the Labour Court and managing director of Guinness Finbarr Flood has died aged 77.

Mr Flood, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, played a key role in industrial relations in Ireland. A former professional footballer, he also served as chairman of Shelbourne FC and was involved with the regeneration projects at Fatima Mansions and St Michael’s Estate in Dublin.

Born on Oxmantown Road in Dublin in 1938, he joined Guinness as a messenger boy at the age of 14 and progressed through the organisation to eventually become managing director in 1989.

He was the first former managing director of a private sector company to chair the Labour Court when he took the post in 1998, having served as deputy chairman from 1994. Dublin Institute of Technology conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 2012.

‘Fabulous contribution’

The Football Association of Ireland said Mr Flood was well known throughout Irish football for his role as chairman of Shelbourne. He played for the club as a goalkeeper from 1959 to 1962.

The association presented Mr Flood with a Hall of Fame award at the FAI Cup Final in 2011, recognising his “fabulous contribution” to Irish football.

FAI chief executive John Delaney said: “I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Finbarr Flood. He was a tremendous servant to Irish football and Shelbourne FC in particular.”

“I dealt with Finbarr on many occasions and always found him to be a passionate and knowledgeable football man. His achievements in and out of the game were extraordinary and he’ll be very sadly missed.

“We will pay tribute to him at the Oman game next month and I pass on the condolences of the FAI to Finbarr’s family and relatives.”