Muckross says farewell to one of its sons

It was apt that Killarney National Park should look its most blooming yesterday for an occasion to celebrate the life of someone whose family’s generosity led to its creation.

AWB (Billy) Vincent was born in Muckross House, Killarney, in 1919, and, though he lived in far-flung exotic lands, he never lost his love for the place that is now the centrepiece of the national park. A prominent philanthropist, he died in Monaco last October, aged 93.

His wealthy father and grandfather gifted the 12,000-acre Muckross estate, including the house, to the people of Ireland in 1932, later incorporated into the national park.

Yesterday, his ashes were interred in a grave beside that of his father, Arthur Rose Vincent, in the shadow of a giant Celtic cross in Killegy, a cemetery overlooking the park near Muckross village.

The burial followed a memorial service in St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Killarney, attended by representatives of church, State, the army, the American Ireland Funds, local civic leaders, the trustees of Muckross House, friends, business acquaintances, and family members from around the world.

They were guests at a state reception hosted last night hosted by Arts and Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan in Muckross House.

The minister said Mr Vincent was very proud of his Irish heritage, adding: “Over a long lifetime, he made an outstanding contribution and a very real difference to the lives of many in Ireland, North and South.”

Mr Vincent divided his early years between California, Muckross and Cannes, in the south of France.

But sadly his mother Maud died of pneumonia contracted during an Atlantic crossing, in 1929. She was aged 44, while Billy was 9 and his sister Elizabeth was 15.

He also regularly visited his grandparents, in Filoli and Grass Valley, California.

After graduating from Cambridge, he enlisted for the Second World War, serving in India, Persia and Iraq, the Middle East, and Italy. After the war, he joined the Hiller Aircraft Corporation. Later, he became an investor in oil exploration.

In 1972, he became a director and leading member of the American Irish Foundation and later the Ireland Fund. He held several corporate directorships and was honoured by a number of universities, including Trinity College Dublin.

Mr Vincent, who kept up contact with Killarney throughout his life, is survived by his widow Elisabeth and son Marc.