Pádraig Hughes, Westport's best-known industrialist and business person, has died aged 84.
For more than 50 years he steered the fortunes of Charles Hughes Ltd, a company founded by his uncle which, earlier this year, celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The youngest and last-surviving of 13 children of the late Owen and Mary Hughes of Lankill, Westport, Hughes was educated at Lankill National School and the Christian Brothers' Secondary School, Westport.
He joined his uncle's business in 1936 at the age of 16 and was predominantly involved in Charles Hughes's wholesale business in Mill Street, which later moved to Castlebar Street. He learned his trade from his uncle, Charles Hughes.
On the latter's death in 1949 he succeeded him at the age of 29 as chairman of the Hughes Group and would then be responsible for a workforce of 400 people, encompassing a number of companies including Charles Hughes's retail and wholesale outlets and the Westport Shirt factory. The group also had a substantial investment in the Irish Sewing Cotton Co and the Reliable Shoe Co.
In the 1950s Pádraig Hughes and his sister, Delia Walsh, started the Poplar Cap Company. Through their investment in the Irish Sewing Cotton Co they were involved in the development of Westport Doubling Co and Westport Textiles, later sold to Seafield Gentex PLC.
By the 1960s Westport had become the textile centre of Ireland, with over 500 people employed, and the Government recognised Hughes's skills, appointing him to the boards of Gaeltarra Éireann, the Industrial Credit Company and the Industrial Development Authority.
In 1969, in partnership with the O'Malley family, he founded Hotel Westport, now one of the west's best-known hotels. In the 1970s, with his wife Máire, he started Carraig Donn Industries, a company which now has branches all over Ireland.
He showed his business skills in recognising changing markets after Ireland joined the EU and was always willing to adapt to these changes.
Hughes was a long-standing member of Fianna Fáil and was chairman of the Westport Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair for many years. He was a close friend of the former minister for justice and for lands, Micheál Ó Móráin.
He enjoyed many sports and was actively involved as president of Westport Coursing Club and Westport GAA Club. He enjoyed his annual visit to the Listowel Races and regular outings to watch the Mayo GAA team.
In later life he visited Lourdes every year and was a daily Mass-goer at St Mary's Church, Westport.
He took particular pride in his large family of 13 children and 48 grandchildren and put great store by education, family values and a good work ethic.
As a final tribute to their beloved father, his eight sons carried his coffin shoulder high through the main street in Westport.
Burial took place in Aughagower Cemetery where his sons and daughters bade farewell to him with a beautiful rendition of Carraig Donn, their late mother's favourite song, which later became the very successful brand name of one of their business enterprises.
He was predeceased 32 years ago by his wife, Máire Kelly, by his son-in-law, Steve Cassidy, and recently by his daughter-in-law, Kim Hughes. He is survived by his daughters, Anne McGovern (Newport), Marian Cassidy (Inis Mór), Cathy Hughes (Galway), Orla O'Carroll (Galway), Eleanor Moran (Manchester), sons Cathal, Seamus, Pat, Harry, Owen and Vincent (Westport), Richard (Galway) and Declan (Dublin); sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends.
Pádraig Hughes: born 1920; died May 28th, 2004