Former chief ESB chemist Sean Murray a yachtsman into his 80s

Sean Murray, who has died aged 91, was a former chief chemist at ESB and a man of many talents who was guiding his yacht Icicle to victory on Dublin Bay well into his 80s.

Sean’s love of learning, wide range of interests and easy charm made him delightful company.

He was born into a strongly nationalist family in Dorset Street in Dublin at the dawn of the Irish Free State. His father, who had served with Michael Collins in the War of Independence, died aged just 37, when Sean was 10.

Times were hard, but a strong mother ensured that Sean was able to progress from St Eunice’s school to O’Connell CBS, where he got his Leaving Cert in 1939.

Sean made lifelong friendships at O'Connells, including with RTÉ soccer correspondent Philip Green.

War years
During the war years he worked in Dublin, but studied chemistry and pharmacy at night, qualifying in both.

He still found enough time to start a relationship with a near neighbour, Kathleen McSweeney, and in 1944 they married. They were both 22.

Sean had a strong adventurous streak and the couple headed off to England, where he worked for the department of supply and later the department of atomic energy all over the northwest – Manchester, Sheffield, Stockport and Widnes – honing his skills in steel and power generation, metallurgy and chemistry.

After a decade in England, Sean and Kay returned to Dublin with two children, Jack and Colm; two more were born in Ireland, Eileen and Paul.

He joined Bord Na Móna initially and then in 1955 the ESB. Chemistry was a vital component in a very tricky plant material selection for successful processing of the only native fuel available to an impoverished State – turf.

Sean became an expert in power station metallurgy and chemistry, and was promoted to chief chemist of the ESB, based in the Poolbeg plant in Dublin but travelling all over the country. Rural electrification meant power demand was growing quickly and the ESB began building power stations fuelled by turf, coal, oil and later gas, all requiring materials of construction whose suitability Sean advised on.

Having been introduced to sailing in Cork, when he arrived at Poolbeg in 1961 from Lanesboro power station he immediately began setting up an ESB sailing club.

In the 1970s he joined the Ruffian 23 Class, using the beautiful wooden Mermaid in which he won the Arthur Newsome Trophy, the premier Dublin Bay sailing club award, in 1978.

Wily competitor
His ruffian, Icicle, was a training ground for many young sailors including Olympic pioneer Cathy MacAleavey – and he sailed and won in that boat well into his 80s. He was a wily competitor with a competitive but fun-loving spirit which ensured the Icicle stayed up at the sharp end until his last race in 2008.

Sean joined the National Yacht Club in 1964 and celebrated his 91th birthday at the club this year.

Because of his intimate knowledge of Dublin's north inner city, he had a deep interest in Ulysses and entertained the dining room at the club with his witty and entertaining observations on the book at the annual National YC Bloomsday lunch.

His fluency in Spanish, French and Germany were acquired during a lifetime of adventure-seeking and trekking. Among his trips were ones to the Atlas Mountains, Patagonia and the Great Barrier Reef.

He was a deeply devoted family man and sadly missed Kay when she died in 2011. He is survived by his children Jack, Colm, Eileen and Paul.