The years he spent as a fundraiser for Fianna Fáil were the highlight of the varied business career of businessman Des Richardson, his funeral Mass in Dublin heard on Friday.
However, he was first and foremost a family man, Mr Richardson’s daughter Jenny told the congregation at Church of the Assumption, on Booterstown Avenue.
“He worked hard to give us everything he thought we deserved,” she said.
“The four loves of dad’s life, the four Fs, were family, friends, football and Fianna Fáil,” and his time as party fundraiser had been the highlight of his varied career, she said.
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“He had so much fun and made many good friends throughout those years and cherished those friendships for the rest of his life.”
Mr Richardson was a close associate of Bertie Ahern during the latter’s years as taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil. Mr Richardson gave evidence to the Mahon tribunal when it was investigating aspects of Mr Ahern’s finances, as well as those of Fianna Fáil and Mr Ahern’s Drumcondra constituency operation.
Born in the Liberties, Mr Richardson left school at the age of 15 and later studied at night in Bolton Street college while working and playing soccer, including for St Pat’s and Home Farm. During his career he worked for several companies and was invited to join several boards, including that of Aer Lingus.
His daughter Kerri said Mr Richardson was “not a boring dad”, she had always known that he was amazing, and had been grateful every day for having him. “He lived and loved life to the fullest.”
Mr Ahern read a passage from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, beginning “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.”
Among those in attendance were former general secretary of Fianna Fáil Pat Farrell, former European commissioner and attorney general, David Byrne, former Fianna Fáil junior minister Seán Power, former chairman of Dublin Port Joe Burke, former adviser to Mr Ahern Ger Howlin (now a columnist with The Irish Times), Mr Ahern’s former speechwriter Brian Murphy, head of protocol Denise Kavanagh, solicitors Liam Guidera and Hugh Millar, PR executive Paul Allen, former chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan and Mr Ahern’s former partner Celia Larkin.
The mass, which included singing from Simon Morgan, Eoin Hynes and Andrea Delaney, accompanied by Gerald Peregrine on cello and Maria Geheran on the organ, was organised by Toni Wall, of Massey funeral directors, who organised the annual Fianna Fáil fundraising tent at the Galway Races during the Ahern leadership years.
Mr Richardson is survived by his wife, Fran, children Jenny, Orla and Kerri, in-laws and grandchildren.
