KILLARNEY will be deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of its most respected and admired citizens, Finbarr Slattery, who passed away, peacefully, earlier today at the age of 92.
A man of enormous wisdom and a walking encyclopedia on world events, his knowledge of current affairs was possibly unrivalled and he was a great authority on so many subjects, not least Irish and international politics, history, agriculture, quizzes, horse racing, golf and Kerry culture.
A native of Asdee, after attending Blackrock College and UCD, from where he graduated with a degree in agricultural science, Finbarr moved to Nottingham for a spell but later returned to his home county and built his life in Killarney, with his wife Carmel (O’Leary) and their three daughters.
He wrote a popular current affairs column, Worldwide, in The Kingdom newspaper and he has the unique distinction of writing for every single edition of that newspaper in its 30-year history.
Finbarr worked as an agricultural advisor with Acot – now Teagasc – and he travelled the highways and byways of Kerry and beyond meeting with farm families on a daily basis to advise on best practice and chat about the news of the day.
Finbarr also served as Secretary of Killarney Race Company from 1978 to 1991 and he was responsible for bringing the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Carmencita Hederman, to a special race meeting in Killarney to mark Dublin’s millennium celebrations in 1988. On that day also, thanks to his efforts, Killarney staged its first ever £10,000 race.
He was also responsible for bringing legendary jockey Lester Piggott to Killarney for the July Races in 1991 and was delighted when the best jockey of all time won three of the five races he rode in.
Finbarr organised a special tribute day to the great broadcaster and racing commentator Micheál O’Hehir in Killarney in May 1994 and in 1996 he published the definitive history of racing with a 520-page book called Following the Horses which remains a bible for those with an interest in the sport.
Finbarr’s political predictions were always in big demand come election time and his number was the first dialled by Morning Ireland presenter David Hanley when he wanted an opinion on air on who the winners and losers might be, come polling day.
Finbarr’s prediction for TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year was also closely watched and the editors published his forecast for many years – and while he didn’t always get it right, he seldom got it wrong.
Finbarr was a very familiar face in Killarney town where he was on first name terms with everybody. He cut quite a dash cycling from his home on countess Road to go about the business of the day and, for many years, he was accompanied on those journeys by his loyal friend and canine companion, Bertie.
Finbarr is survived by his wife, Carmel, daughters Aideen, Sinead and Niamh, granddaughters Caoileann, Clare, Aoibhe, Roise, Emer, Mary and Sally, his goddaughter Lorna, sons-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews and niece, relatives, neighbours and many good friends.
Reposing in O’Shea’s Funeral Home this Sunday from 4.00pm, removal will take place at 6.00pm to St Mary’s Cathedral with Requiem Mass on Monday at 10.30am. Burial will take place afterwards in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
The family has asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be made to St Vincent de Paul, an organisation the late Finbarr had volunteers with for several years.
KillarneyToday.com
