The late skipper and fleet owner Kevin McHugh (60) was an "inspiring boss" with a "magnetic personality", his son Karl told hundreds of mourners at Mr McHugh's funeral in Killybegs, Co Donegal, yesterday.
History would remember him as a "pioneer" , and one of "a band of brave individuals" who defied the odds, Mr McHugh said in a personal tribute in St Mary's Church.
With his intellect, bravery and determination, the late owner of the Atlantic Dawn had represented "all that was best in the Irish fishing industry".
However, it was "unfortunate" that certain sections of the media who had attempted to "question" his father's character when he lived were continuing to "try and mislead" now in relation to the nature of his illness, Mr McHugh added.
"My father did not suffer from BSE," he said. The results of tests were not yet available, but were expected to confirm that his father had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and in this illness he had "finally met his match", Mr McHugh said.
Also highlighting his role as a businessman, father, family man and member of the faith community, Fr Colm Ó Gallchoir, parish priest of Killybegs, recalled how the young Achill islander from Bullsmouth had left at 16 years of age to fish off Balbriggan and then Howth on the Irish Sea.
Fr Ó Gallchoir recalled how 28 years ago he and his wife, Vera, had moved north to Killybegs, and through his successive vessels - the Antarctic, two Veronicas and Atlantic Dawn, he had created employment at sea and in the catering industry.
Offertory gifts presented by Mr McHugh's family included a photograph of his family, an atlas symbolising his extensive travels, and beach pebbles in memory of his "beloved Achill". Readings were by his brother and fellow skipper, Eamonn, and Niall O'Gorman, financial director of Atlantic Dawn Ltd.
Chief mourners were Mr McHugh's wife, his sons, Paul, Karl and Kevin, daughter Noreen and siblings Michael, Robbie, Peter, Eamonn, Sheila and Mary. His sister Columba was unable to attend due to her husband's illness. Concelebrating was Fr John Joe Duffy of Arranmore island, Co Donegal, and among the attendance were Department of Marine assistant secretary Ceci Beamish and principal officer Josephine Kelly, former Bord Iascaigh Mhara chief executive Brendan O'Kelly, National Salmon Commission chairman Joey Murrin, RTÉ Northern Correspondent Tommie Gorman, and fellow skippers and crew including Martin Howley of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation.
Business colleagues from Scandinavia to Castletownbere, Co Cork, were present, and music was by the Donegal tenors, organist Deirdre McLaughlin and flautist Eileen Carr Kennedy.
No politicians attended yesterday, but Minister of State for Transport Pat the Cope Gallagher and Mayo Independent TD Beverley Flynn were at Mr McHugh's removal in Dublin on Thursday.
