Farewell to much-loved ‘man for all people’

HUNDREDS bid a fond farewell yesterday to a much-loved man who believed the arts and sport were the heartbeat of humanity.

Charlie Hennessy, former chairman of the Cork International Film Festival, chairman of Cork Opera House and Arts Council member, died on Monday following a short illness, aged 77.

His widow, Abigail, his sister Frankie and brother Ray led mourners at the funeral Mass at the North Cathedral.

Fr Pat O’Donovan said Charlie was often described as a “man for all seasons”.

But he could also be described as “a man for all people”.

“He was known as Mr Monkstown, or the lord mayor of Monkstown. He touched the lives of so many people and has left a wonderful legacy.”

Mr Hennessy served as chairman of the city’s film festival committee for 13 years and as chairman of the board of Cork Opera House for the last 17 years.

A solicitor, he also served for 25 years as an Independent member of Passage town council, including 12 terms as council chair.

Following a simple ceremony, Mr Hennessy’s brother Ray told the congregation Charlie always believed the arts and sport were the heartbeat of humanity.

“Our family knew him as a quintessential gentleman with exceptional personal talents,” he said.

“He was warm, sensitive and good humoured, exceptionally funny, always civil and courteous, immensely generous, and very firm on matters of principal,” he said.

“His inherent talents often thrust him to centre stage on occasions. In such circumstances, to remain modest and kind was in itself no mean achievement.”

Ray spoke of his mother’s pride in Charlie’s achievements and recalled a funny incident in Rosie’s pub in Carrigaline, involving their father, when Charlie was a teenager.

“We were approached by four men from Sunday’s Well rugby club who asked my father now that Charlie was leaving Pres, what was he going to do with himself.

“My father said: ‘They tell me he’s going to do law. It’s the best thing for him. I don’t think he’ll have the brains for my business’.”

Ray concluded: “When someone like this dies, some shed a tear because he has died. Others smile because he has lived. I will smile.”

Mr Hennessy’s remains were buried following a private ceremony in St Finbarr’s Cemetery.

Among the mourners were Bishop John Buckley, poet Theo Dorgan, artists Bill Griffin and Charlo Quain, sculptor Sean McCarthy, Cork Film Festival’s Mick Hannigan, Cork Folk Festival’s Bill Hammond, Cork Opera House director, Gerry Barnes, and staff, Pat Talbot and Michael White from the Everyman, and Peter Murray and Michael Downes from the Crawford Art Gallery.

Mr Hennessy was a senior partner of JW O’Donovan Solicitors on Cork’s South Mall. Partners Pat Bradley, Raymond Shanahan and Jerome O’Sullivan and their staff attended, as did solicitor John O Lee and auctioneer David Daly.

Ken Langdon, the registrar of the National College of Art and Design, and Councillor Mairín Quill, deputy chair of the college board, were also present, alongside former UCC president Gerry Wrixon.

Also in attendance were Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy, former Irish rugby captain Tom Kiernan, former Ireland and Cork Con fly-half Ralph Keyes, and developer Clayton Love.

Former tánaiste and minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Barry, Kathleen Lynch TD, Simon Coveney TD, former senator Michael Lannigan from Co Kilkenny, deputy lord mayor of Cork, Cllr Jim Corr, former lord mayor Cllr Donal Counihan, and deputy mayor of Fermoy, Cllr John Murphy, also attended.