Fergus Ahern:FERGUS AHERN, who has died aged 66, was the chairman of Boyle Arts Festival committee. An accountant by profession, he was a member of the festival committee since its inception in 1989 and was chairman for 10 years.
Passionate about his home town, he saw no reason why talents, and audiences, should not make the trip to Boyle, where they could take the stage alongside local artists.
Festival administrator Christine Kelly described Ahern as the driving force behind the event and said his commitment and passion helped to make this year’s festival – the 21st – the best ever.
Local councillor John Cummins said Ahern would be remembered for the vision, energy and enthusiasm he demonstrated in bringing the festival to national and international prominence.
The annual art exhibition was a centrepiece of the festival, and Aidan Dunne, in this newspaper, wrote that Ahern had “that distinctive passion” for finding and acquiring something that surprised and intrigued him, something which greatly contributed to the exhibition’s evolution.
Ahern’s interest in art arose from an occasion when as a student at UCD he took shelter from the rain in the David Hendricks gallery at St Stephen’s Green. Finding himself at an exhibition opening, he was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a glass of wine and his name was added to the gallery mailing list.
Born in Boyle, Co Roscommon, in 1944, he was the eldest son of Bertie and Nancy Ahern. Educated locally and at Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, and UCD, he qualified as a chartered accountant in London in 1973. After a few years working abroad he returned to practise in Ireland in 1977.
His name will be forever associated with the Boyle Civic Collection and assembling it was a labour of love.
He sought to make the visual arts more accessible by giving people the opportunity to see some of the best art in Ireland. Now comprising 200 works, it is housed in King House.
His accountancy firm’s contribution to the collection was recognised this year with a Cothú Business Council for Arts award, the second such award made to the company.
He supported other causes. With John de Vere White he raised almost €1 million for charities through a series of art auctions, the proceeds of which were donated to the victims of famine in Somalia, the Omagh bombing, the 2004 tsunami and this year’s earthquake in Haiti.
He also worked as a volunteer with the Niall Mellon Township Trust in South Africa in 2009.
Closer to home, he was instrumental in the establishment of a scholarship scheme for Leaving Certificate students of Boyle Community College, funded by local businesses.
A lifelong member of Fine Gael, he served on the national executive in the mid-1980s.
As a member of the council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland he was an able champion of the small rural practitioner.
He was a former chairman of Boyle Chamber of Commerce.
A keen Munster rugby supporter, he travelled all over Europe to support the team in good times and bad.
At the time of his death he was treasurer of Carrick-on-Shannon rugby club, and he also was one of the main sponsors of the kit for the Burundi national rugby team.
He was a devoted husband and father, and he will be missed by his many friends.
He is survived by his wife, Marian (née Baynes), and daughters Gráinne and Aisling.
Fergus Ahern: born May 1st, 1944; died September 19th, 2010