Jim Mansfield: “a special patriarch who will always be remembered”

The property developer and hotelier Jim Mansfield was remembered at his funeral today as "a unique and special patriarch who will always be remembered and never be replaced."

Mr Mansfield's daughter-in-law Anita described Mansfield, the former owner of the Citywest Hotel in Dublin and a multimillionaire during the boom, as a loving father and grandfather who liked to take his family on holidays to watch motor racing in Silverstone Grand Prix in England.

Saggart parish priest Fr Enda Cunningham praised Mansfield's business skills, his drive and his "pride in belonging to this community."

He said it was important today to focus on the businessman’s love of his wife Anne, children Tony, Jimmy Jr and PJ as well as his brothers and extended family.

“I’ve met some in this parish who would forever swear by Jim Mansfield and people are deeply grateful for a helping hand in a time of neeed,” he added.

Fr Cunningham acknowledged that Mansfield had a high public profile but said it was for God and not individuals to judge men.

Mansfield made his money originally selling machinery and equipment left over the Falklands war and later he used the money to build Citywest and acquire his own private airport as well as various country houses in Leinster.

Among the packed crowd in his funeral mass in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was publican Louis Fitzgerald, hotelier Tom Moran, solicitor Noel Smyth, model Glenda Gilson, Bernard O'Byrne, the former FAI boss and singer Dicky Rock.

Mansfield was buried in a graveyard across the road from the Church on the boundaries of the grounds of his beloved Citywest. His coffin was carried out to Frank Sinatra singing "My Way."