Managing director of Ticketmaster Ireland Eamonn O’Connor died yesterday following a short illness.

Mr O’Connor (51) was described by the company he worked with for 16 years as “a major figure” in the Irish entertainment industry.

A native of the Navan Road in Dublin, Mr O’Connor began his career as a public servant but in 1986 he followed up on his avid interest in the world of entertainment to become general manager of HMV’s ticket shops on Grafton Street and Henry Street.

He set up Ireland’s first computerised ticketing operation in 1992 with business partner Tommy Higgins.

In 1997, the pair entered a joint venture arrangement with Ticketmaster and in 2004 he was made managing director of the company.

The success of the Ticketmaster was attributed yesterday to Mr O’Connor’s “guidance, dedication and enthusiasm”.