Peter Dunne:PETER DUNNE, who has died aged 73, was a boatbuilder and sailor whose passing marks the end of an era for the sailing community, especially in north Co Dublin.
Born in Rush in 1935, Peter Dunne was the eldest of seven children: sisters Joan, Sheila, Mary, Monica, Frances and a younger brother, Tommy. He went to Rush National School where he was taught by Joe Kane. After leaving school, he started his apprenticeship as a carpenter.
He worked in various places, finishing in Jim Coleman's on the Channel Road and when Coleman's closed, he devoted the rest of his life to his first love - boatbuilding and repairs.
He used his skill as as a carpenter and his love of boats to built his first Mermaid, Deirdre, in the backyard of his family home in Eden Terrace, starting in February 1953. His siblings have fond memories of playing in the backyard among the shavings and timber. When the boat was completed, the only way to get it out was to take the roof off the shed and manhandle the vessel over an 8ft wall.
He was a founding member of Rush Sailing Club and was elected hon secretary at the inaugural meeting in 1954. He went on to become Commodore and continued his work and devotion to the club right up to his death.
His sailing was not without drama. In June 1955, he and his father set sail to Skerries when the weather turned bad. A huge search was started and the pair were rescued by Clogherhead lifeboat as they headed towards the Isle of Man. According to Peter, he was never lost and knew exactly where he was heading. His dedication and support for the lifeboat was legendary.
During the early years of the club he used his boatbuilding skills to teach and helped the members to build Mermaids at the Mill and later GP14s at the clubhouse. He built and launched his first GP14 Phantom in 1966.
The junior members who Peter taught and encouraged in those early years are now the backbone of Rush Sailing Club, instilled with Peter's love of sailing.
He married his wife Nelly in 1959 and daughter Patrica came along a few years later. Patricia remembers sleeping on life jackets as a child under the deck of a boat, always knowing no matter how high the waves or rough the sea, that she was safe with her dad on the helm.
Despite setbacks to his health since 1992, he continued to sail until recently. In 2003, he set sail to Skerries regatta in Deirdre, with Nellie and grandson Rick as crew. Peter and Deirdre were escorted from Rush by a motor boat who advised they were now participating in the race - causing much delight to have Peter back in the racing fleet in Deirdre and also much consternation to the rescue crews.
The Deirdre took to racing again the next year at Rush regatta when Peter, Tony Bollard and Moss Weldon, with a combined age of 235, participated in the race. There was great camaraderie at the slipway as everyone helped to get the three into the boat, and set sail.
He was on the board of St Maur's Trust, which was set up to care for the former Chapel of St Maur. He was instrumental in helping to save the old chapel from demolition. In recent times it has been used as an arts centre and will soon be restored by Fingal Co Council who are transforming it into a library.
A restored chapel, the river full of sailing boats, the club going from strength to strength - this is the legacy that Peter Dunne has left for future generations.
Peter is survived by Nellie, Patricia and Rick and his other grandson, Keith.
Peter Dunne born: March 27th, 1935; died April 22nd, 2008