Last Thursday, our founder and chairman Ronnie O'Gorman passed away after an illness bravely borne.
As a respected businessman, innovator and cultural supporter, his death leaves a massive void in the cultural life of this city.
Since his return to Galway in the late 1960s after studying and teaching in the UK, his brainchild, which was this newspaper, has been at the centre of his encouragement of the arts, coinciding initially with the transformation of this city in the mid 1970s into a place where creativity and innovation are valued.
His lifelong pride in Galway has been evident over the past week, with thousands of messages from people who appreciated his positive impact. In our tributes this week, he was described by several commentators as one of the most influential Galwegians of the past half-century; his newspaper and ideals following the trajectory of the growing city.
He passed away surrounded by his loving family in the house where he was born in the summer of 1945 — his life starting and ending in the place he loved, among family, friends and neighbours.
We are bereft at his passing — This week, as a mark of respect to Ronnie, the Galway Advertiser, the newspaper he founded 54 years ago, contains a 12-page tribute pullout from page 55-66, containing tributes to Ronnie from those who were closest to him, his beloved family, his colleagues past and present, and those whose lives he touched through his unswerving generosity and encouragement.
