You reach the summit of Diamond Hill, or somewhere similar along the many spectacular locations on Galway's stunning coastline, and what you see takes your breath away. You want to capture the beauty of this sight before your eyes, and you reach for your camera. But, no matter what angle you look from, or how many photos you take, you cannot do justice to the view before you. The camera lens is not wide enough, your eyes barely are, and you realise the scene cannot be adequately captured.
Writing a tribute to Ronnie O’Gorman is a bit like that.
He was an extraordinary man, and Galway can rarely, if ever, have produced a finer son.
This supplement contains many glowing tributes from some very articulate writers, but none can fully do justice to Ronnie, because, just like the camera and the view, no words can adequately pay tribute to his achievements.
In the last few days, many terms have been used to describe Ronnie, and they are all true. Charming, kind, generous, charismatic, funny, patient, wise, curious, and an incredible storyteller, he was the most socially gifted person I have ever known. Ronnie also had that rare talent, where every time you met him, irrespective of your own mood, you felt great afterwards. Fun was at the centre of every encounter with Ronnie.
There have been many great Galwegians over the decades, who have helped make this city and county the wonderful places they are, but paying tribute to Ronnie on radio this week, Tom Kenny said, in his opinion, no-one had as large an impact as Ronnie on Galway life over the last fifty years. High praise indeed from a man who has seen all the prominent contributors to Galway over the last half century.
Although a very successful businessman, Ronnie’s eyes would glaze over when you produced a set of accounts, or a balance sheet, to examine. But mention Galway, and its potential, he became energised and would speak at length about the progress made here over the years, and what a great future was in store for us all.
There were very many aspects to his life, entrepreneur, advocate for all things Galway, art collector, voracious reader, journalist, podcaster, donor to a wide variety of charities, storyteller (as he often reminded us, not a historian ), film and music lover. An unmatched wealth of knowledge of Galway and its history, which was shared in the pages of The Galway Advertiser and on his podcast with Tom Kenny, will prove a treasure trove for future studies of this place.
He wore his knowledge lightly, and was never boastful. He was great company. He performed dozens of private acts of kindness and generosity, which he was determined would never become public.
It is difficult to believe that warm, reassuring voice has been stilled forever.
Ronnie’s optimism
Though these are dark days here in the Galway Advertiser, we think of Ronnie, and we are encouraged to remain true to his principles of optimism, hope and a sense of fun. Our tears are intermingled with laughter as we recall many of his tales and anecdotes.
Ronnie was diagnosed with a serious illness last summer, after returning home from a trip to Venice. It was, he told me, “probably the most enjoyable trip of his life, the first time he did not want to return home from a holiday”, and he intended to have plenty more of them. Sadly, due to his diagnosis, there were to be no more trips abroad, except for one.
Accompanied by his devoted son, Ben, a Christmas visit was arranged to his beloved sister, Zan, in the U.S., and to his adored daughter, Sally, her husband, Paddy and their two children, Beatrice and Ezra. We feared for him on that trip, but he was determined, and despite all his gentleness, when Ronnie was determined, he always showed the resilience to get through. And, this was family, and family always came first.
He displayed enormous courage and dignity in battling his illness, and in recent months, in typical Ronnie fashion, seemed more concerned with others than with himself.
To those who will miss him most, but can also be consoled in the knowledge that they brought him the greatest happiness in his life, to which he often told me all five of his children contributed equally, we offer our deepest sympathy, daughters Sadhbh, Sian, Anna Joy and Sally, son Ben, sons-in-law Manus and Paddy, grandchildren, Ruby, Iseult, Beatrice and Ezra, brother Phillip and sister Zan, and their families.
I would also like to thank others who contributed to Ronnie’s wonderful life, the staff of the Galway Advertiser, the businesses who have supported Ronnie for many years, the people of Galway and loyal readers who for decades have taken the Galway Advertiser to their hearts.
A father of five, a grandfather of four, and, in so many ways here at the Galway Advertiser, a father to us all.
As many Americans asked on the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, a “father of the nation” type figure, who will look after us now that he is gone?
May Ronnie rest in peace.
