Cork businessman and Fine Gael activist John Mullins dies aged 57

John Mullins. Picture: Dan Linehan

The businessman and Fine Gael activist John Mullins has died aged 57.

Mr Mullins was the Fine Gael candidate for Ireland South in last year's European elections, having been selected to run in place of the retiring Deirdre Clune.

Originally from Bishopstown in Cork, and living in East Cork, he was the group chairman of solar energy firm Amarenco and had a long-standing association with Fine Gael.

The Cork native had previously put his name forward to run for Fine Gael in the Cork North Central by-election in 1994 but was beaten in the selection convention by Colm Burke, who has served as TD for the constituency since 2020.

Mr Mullins served as CEO of Bord Gáis between 2007 and 2012 and served as president of the Cork Chamber of Commerce from 2011 to 2013. He was a member of the board of directors of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the One Cork fundraising committee.

He also served as chairman of the Port of Cork board between 2013 and 2018.

An engineering graduate of UCC, he joined Young Fine Gael in the early 1990s, serving as national president from 1993 to 1995.

He worked in senior positions in the ESB, PwC, NTR Plc, Greenstar and Bioverda, before he was appointed chief executive of Bórd Gáis in 2007.

'John was a true son of Cork'

Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has paid tribute to Mr Mullins, saying it was "an honour to know him".

“It was an honour to know John, to soldier with him in politics, to canvass with him and I always found it a joy to be in his company.

"John led a distinguished career, including leading Bord Gáis Energy through a period of great transition. John was a businessman and an entrepreneur who was experienced and motivated by ingenuity and reward of enterprise.

"A GAA fan, a charity advocate, John was a true son of Cork. Whether it was through his chairmanship of the Port of Cork, his role as director of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, or his presidency of Cork Chamber of Commerce, his entire career was motivated by a desire to do right by his native city.

"For Fine Gael, he was a proud friend of so many and a party activist to his core. He was a former president of Young Fine Gael, a party trustee, a director of elections and more recently a European election candidate. The Fine Gael family, especially across Cork, mourns his loss today.

“He was kind, witty, intelligent, fundamentally decent and someone who always wanted to do right by his community and his country. His loss is immense and will be felt deeply by so many.

"I am especially thinking of his wife Siobhan and his two children Michael and Sarah as well as his parents Pat and Maureen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin also paid tribute to Mr Mullins, whom he called "a wonderfully gregarious character who had a huge impact in Cork and across the country".

"John had a particular interest in sport, with his beloved Bishopstown GAA and as director of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and I often enjoyed great banter with him over sporting rivalries.

"John fully realised his potential in public service and in business, but he could just as easily have realised his promise in politics with his deep and abiding interest and involvement with Fine Gael.

"A great strategist, you would see John at all the election counts over the years. So many people will be shocked and saddened at John’s passing at such a young age, and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Siobhan, his family and friends."

EU Commissioner Michael McGrath said the death of Mr Mullins is “absolutely devastating”.

He said: “I would have got to know John quite well in political circles, and in business circles, and he was such a prominent figure in business and politics in Cork over many years and made an enormous contribution to the civic life and the business life of the city.

He said he was a “real stalwart” in the GAA, particularly with the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. He cited his work as chairman of the Port of Cork and as a former president of Cork Chamber.

“He did a huge amount of good work in the background to promote Cork in all its forms and it is just absolutely devastating news and my heart goes out to his family on such a sudden and tragic loss.”