Killarney was deeply saddened this Wednesday to learn of the passing, following an illness, of hugely popular businessman Andy O’Sullivan.
A great community stalwart and a passionate GAA man, he operated the busy Killarney Carpet and Furniture Centre on High Street for several years.
From Ballaugh Cross, Killarney, Andy was a very active personality in the commercial life of the town and his great wit, his sense of fun and his compassionate nature ensured he was held in very high esteem by people of all ages.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce said Andy will be fondly remembered as a wonderful community man who always put the best interests of Killarney first and he was forever willing to put his shoulder to the wheel when it came to promoting and improving the town.
Andy was a long-time member of Chamber and he always had great ideas on how the town could be progressed in the right direction.
“He was very much to the forefront when it came to innovative ideas and Andy and his family have contributed enormously and steadfastly to the commercial life of the town,” the Chamber executive said.
“He was a great neighbour to others in business, offering very useful advice to many and he was always willing and able to help others if the need arose,” the Chamber added.
The executive said while Andy’s cheery disposition, friendliness and smile will be greatly missed, Killarney is lucky that his sons and daughters are very active in the business life of the town and, like their dad, they are very forward-thinking and progressive.
A founder member of the South Kerry Independent Alliance, Andy was also a great and loyal supporter of the Killarney Tidy Towns organisation and his attractive business premises on High Street was a great example to others of how a commercial building could and should be presented.
He was a regular award winner in the Killarney Looking Good competition and Andy always led by example.
A dedicated GAA man, he served his Spa club and East Kerry Board with distinction for close on four decades.
He was chairman during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history in the 1980s with Spa winning two East Kerry SFC titles and he also spearheaded a root and branch reorganisation of club structures to equip those involved for the future, both on and off the field of play.
Andy was elected treasurer of the East Kerry Board in 1990 and served for a period of eight years and, again, he concentrated on modernising how the organisation did its business.
He was to the fore when the East Kerry divisional team bridged a 27-year gap to win three-in-a-row county championships from 1997-99 before he again became Spa chairman for two additional terms.
Andy played a huge role on the club development committee in Spa that led to the provision of a first class playing facility and clubhouse, complete with a multi-purpose hall, dressing rooms, meeting rooms and a fully equipped gym.
He was also very actively involved with the Fitzgerald Stadium Committee and spent a number of years as chairman, planning for the future of the county’s premier GAA ground.
Predeceased by his sister Nancy and his brothers Paddy and Dan Joe, Andy is survived by his wife, Kathleen (née Brady), daughters Gráinne and Maria, sons Ronan, Niall and Diarmaid and grandchildren Aoibhín, Fionn, Ryan, Alex, Maggie, Teddy and the late baby Clodagh.
He is further survived by his daughters-in-law Rachel, Michelle and Erin, sons-in-law Anto Cronin and Kevin O’Sullivan, his brothers and sisters Nora Mai, John, Noel, Liz and Mary, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, relatives, neighbours and his many great friends.
Reposing at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney on Friday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 10.30am in St Mary’s Cathedral, followed by burial in Killaha Graveyard, Glenflesk.
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