Mr Bernie Cahill's business interests meant he spent a lot of time away from his home but his heart remained firmly in his native Co Cork.
He was born in Bere Island, off the Cork coast, in 1930, the third child in a family of five. He grew up in the island village of Rerrin, where his family had a small farm, a pub and a grocery shop.
The Cahill family also ran a business hiring out rowing boats from Laurence's Cove on the Bantry Bay island.
During Mr Cahill's childhood, the small island had a population of more than 1,100. Its population has dwindled to less than 300.
Mr Cahill attended the local national school and then Rockwell College, Co Tipperary, and University College Cork, where he studied dairy science. After graduating, he worked in Clare and Tipperary with the former Dairy Disposal Board. It was during these years that he me his wife, Kathleen, who is from Co Clare.
He moved to the UK as an executive with the Milk Marketing Board and later the Condensed Milk Company. He joined Grand Metropolitan's Express Dairies in Britain in 1957, before returning to Ireland in the 1960s to build a business for Express. He set up companies for Grand Met, including Carbery Milk Products and Virginia Milk Products. During this period he acquired a high profile in the business community and a reputation for efficiency and shrewdness.
In 1985, Mr Cahill was appointed chairman of the Irish Sugar Company, later renamed Greencore.
In 1991, he was chairman of Greencore when its chief executive, Mr Chris Comerford, claimed a private profit from one of the former State company's deals. Mr Comerford left after that deal was exposed and the spotlight turned on Mr Cahill, with calls for him to resign. Mr Cahill remained and said in recent years that he regretted the Greencore affair but believed he had been vindicated.
He stepped down as Greencore chairman last February following the rejection by shareholders of a special resolution at the a.g.m. allowing him to serve another year.
The failure of the resolution was a considerable blow to the board and management at Greencore. It was at the request of the board that Mr Cahill had gone forward for re-election to help with the integration of British foods group Hazlewood, which it had recently acquired.
Mr Cahill was appointed chairman of Aer Lingus in 1991 by the then Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey. He spent periods as both an executive and non-executive chairman at the airline. He was appointed by Fianna Fail and reappointed by Fine Gael governments and worked under six ministers.
In a recent Irish Times interview about Aer Lingus's search for a strategic alliance partner, Mr Cahill said he had enjoyed his life in business. "I enjoy meeting people and I enjoy the cut and thrust of competition."
He said he had learned in business "never try to outsmart the other guy. If you do, it won't work."
Mr Cahill was part of the Cork yachting scene and made trips on his yacht, the Whistling Oyster, to the Canary Islands or the Caribbean. His love for sailing brought him in contact with Mr Haughey, with whom he became friends.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and three adult children.