The late Mr Niall Crowley was described yesterday as a man who brought the qualities of integrity, honesty, openness and diligence to both his business and personal life.
He also placed a special emphasis on people, mourners at his funeral in Dublin were told.
Mr Crowley (72), who was a former managing partner of Stokes Kennedy Crowley (SKC), now KPMG, and a highly-respected businessman had a "kind and generous, yet challenging" approach to life, which touched many people, his son, Vincent, said.
He told the large congregation at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook that his father had a very close relationship with his five sons and one daughter. "He was always supportive, but questioning of all of us."
His father's work for the Pavee Point Travellers Centre was also recalled as was his association with the development of the ARK centre in Temple Bar, Dublin. Mr Crowley also did a lot of "quiet work" for the British-Irish Association and Co-operation North, mourners heard. His son said it had given Mr Crowley great pleasure to vote in the recent referendums.
Mr Crowley, who died following a five-year battle against illness, never allowed his illness to affect his enjoyment of life, Mr Crowley's brother, Fr Vincent Crowley, said. Fr Crowley, who was the chief concelebrant at the funeral Mass, said Mr Crowley's family and friends held a very special place in his brother's life. He said that while Mr Crowley was in the Blackrock Clinic sometimes it was almost necessary to make an appointment to see him, because so many people were visiting.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Jerome Kennedy, managing partner at KPMG, paid tribute to Mr Crowley for his work at the company and said he had made an unique contribution to its growth and development. He said Mr Crowley had shown his exceptional leadership qualities as a board member and chairman of a number of organisations.
"He has continued to show great interest in the continuing success of SKC and subsequently KPMG and all of the people who make up this firm," he added.
The chief mourners were Mr Crowley's wife Una, his sons Vincent, Niall Michael, Maurice, Philip and Peter, his daughter Emma, his brothers Fr Vincent, Richard, Conor, Laurence and Tim and sister Marianne.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-decamp, Comdt Anthony O'Doherty and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan. The British ambassador, Ms Veronica Sutherland attended.
Also present was a former president, Dr Patrick Hillery and a former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald. Another former Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, was represented by his wife Maureen. Among the judiciary present was Mr Justice Declan Costello, former president of the High Court.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr John Stafford, was also in attendance. Politicians present included Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, Fine Gael TD, Ms Nora Owen and former Fine Gael leader, Mr Alan Dukes. The former secretary of the Department of Finance, Dr T K Whittaker, was also present.
A wide cross-section of the business community attended, including: IBEC director-general, Mr John Dunne; Telecom Eireann chairman, Mr Ron Bolger; Ms Mary Finan; managing director of WHPR; Mr Oliver Fry, former principal partner of solicitors William Fry; Mr John Bourke, chairman, Irish Permanent; and Mr Pierse Kent, president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Also in attendance was the editor of The Irish Times, Mr Conor Brady and the chief executive of Independent Newspapers, Mr Liam Healy.
Co-operation North was represented by its chief executive, Mr Tony Kennedy and The Ireland Funds were represented by Mr Martin McCullough.
The concelebrants with Fr Crowley were: Monsignor Thomas Fehily, PP Dun Laoghaire; Fr Mark Noonan, president All Hallows College; Fr Dermot Farrell, president of St Patrick's College Maynooth; Fr Enda McDonagh, retired professor of moral theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth; and Fr Martin Clarke, spokesman for the Irish Bishops' Conference.
