HAROLD JOHNSON,who has died aged 86, was a former chairman of Cork Opera House, a long-standing patron of the arts in Ireland and an aficionado of drag hunting.
It was the sheer excitement of seeing his first panto at the age of six that began his love affair with the theatre and especially with the opera house in Cork. Spellbound by the annual visits of companies from London and Dublin, he recalled being “enthralled by the performances of visiting companies, especially the Abbey, treating us to emerging stars like a very young Cyril Cusack, Jack MacGowran, Arthur Sinclair and the great ‘FJ’ McCormack”.
When the opera house burned down in 1955, it was Harold and his wife Chloe, a graduate of London’s Central School of Dramatic Art, who led the public fundraising campaign to rebuild the lovely old theatre. Their tireless efforts were rewarded 10 years later when president Éamon de Valera opened the new opera house on the site of the original, beside the river Lee.
Johnson was immediately appointed a director of the opera house, going on to serve on the board for 28 years, including five as chairman. His dedication to the opera house is honoured by Harold’s Wall, a collection of images recording its illustrious past.
In recognition of his contribution to culture, an honorary degree was conferred on him by UCC in 2004. Prof GT Wrixon, then college president, said that by honouring him, the university had put “Harold’s vision all down the years in its true perspective”.
His positive outlook on life was infectious and he had a great gift of enthusiasm for everything he did. As an old friend said, “Harold always had a smile on his face”.
Born on a farm in the shadow of Mount Gabriel near Ballydehob in west Cork, he was educated at Midleton College, later serving for 21 years on its board of governors. He was chairman of the Cheshire Home charitable organisation in Cork for nine years.
A lifelong sailor, he was also a keen rugby player, lining out with Cork Constitution before the loss of a kidney forced him to give up the game. It did not deter him from hunting with the South Union and United. Less formally, with the hounds of Ballydehob and Ballinascarthy, he rode in drag hunts where instead of chasing a fox, the pack followed a sack soaked in aniseed.
Famously, he once organised a “record-breaking” sponsored swim to Baltimore from Sherkin Island in which 48 participants started and 49 finished.
Academically talented, he came first in Ireland in his final accountancy exams and worked with a number of Cork firms as a chartered accountant.
Partial to good food and an occasional glass of wine, the day he received his free travel pass he took the bus from Carrigaline to Cork where he dined at the Arbutus Lodge, one of Ireland’s finest restaurants at the time.
His lifelong friend, Edward G Hallinan, recalled in his address at the funeral service that poor health in his latter years had failed to quench his campaigning spirit. When he was over 80 and facing into a battle with Parkinson’s disease, he raised €10,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by completing two charity walks in west Cork.
Predeceased by his wife Chloe, he is survived by his daughter Fiona, sons Rory and Shane, and his great friend Oriana.
Harold Johnson: born August 13th, 1925; died September 4th, 2011