The death has taken place of Mrs Mary McShain (91), of Killarney House, Co Kerry.
She and her late husband, John, acquired Killarney House and a major part of the Kenmare Estate in 1960. They transferred the house and most of their property to the State in 1979 for inclusion in Killarney National Park. A condition of the agreement was that the lands would be incorporated into the Killarney National Park in perpetuity.
A Lady of the Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre and a Dame of Malta, Mrs McShain was the recipient in 1976 of the highest honour the Vatican bestows on a laywoman - the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross. In 1977, she was twice presented with honorary doctorates: La Salle University, Doctor of Laws, and from Chestnut Hill College and Rosemount College, Doctor of Humane Letters.
Her husband was at one time the third-largest general contractor in the US, responsible for the reconstruction of the White House, the building of the Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon and the John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
In 1952, they established a stable of racehorses in the US and extended it to Ireland in 1955, engaging, as trainer, Vincent O'Brien and later John Oxx. Ballymoss won the Irish Derby, the English St Leger and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to become champion of Europe in 1958.
The Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, last night thanked the McShains for their contribution to the nation. She extended her sympathy to Mrs McShain's daughter, Sister Pauline McShain.
A funeral mass will be held in St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, at noon tomorrow and Mrs McShain's remains will be flown to Philadelphia for burial the following day.