Tánaiste leads tributes to 'Renaissance man', the late Clayton Love Jnr

“A Titan of Cork business” and a “trailblazer” in the development of Cork city’s suburbs were among some of the heartfelt tributes paid to Clayton Love Jnr, who died today.

Mr Love, who would have turned 95 in April, died in his home in Howth.

He is survived by his wife Barbara and his three children.

His first wife, Betty, died in 2006.

Advocate 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was saddened to hear of Mr Love’s death, and said he had made an “enormous contribution to Cork through his pioneering work in the commercial and business world”.

“He was a tremendous advocate for Cork, wanting it to be a key strategic and international city." 

Mr Martin recalled the role played by the late Mr Love in organisations such as the RNLI, Fota Wildlife Park, and “his beloved Royal Cork Yacht Club”.

“He was a Renaissance man, well versed, well read, erudite, altruistic, a patron of the arts with the public interest at heart.”

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork, said the death of Clayton Love Jnr signified the passing of a piece of the city’s history — given his key role in regenerating suburbs such as Douglas, Wilton, and Blackpool where he developed major shopping centres — which kickstarted housing developments in those areas.

“He was a major force in the development of suburbia as the shopping centres he developed in Douglas, Wilton, and Blackpool really helped those areas,” the Lord Mayor said, extending his condolences to Mr Love’s widow and children and the wider Love family — who he described as being an integral part of the fabric of the city for the past 120 years.

'Changed the landscape' of Cork city 

Donal McClements, a friend of the late Mr Love’s, described him as someone who changed the landscape of his native city, and his own personal mentor.

“Clayton Love and Sons was the family business, and they were the first cash and carry in Ireland. He reopened St Peter’s Market in the early 1960s — they were a wholesale merchant, a fish merchant, and did a lot of business supplying the transatlantic liners with food,” said Mr McClements, who worked with Mr Love in the early days in St Peter’s Market.

“Some years later, he went into property development, and Douglas was the first shopping centre. He then developed Wilton and Blackpool. He was highly regarded, he was the chairman of Beamish and Crawford for around 20 years.”

Brilliant

Mr McClements also recalled Clayton Love as an excellent sailor and brilliant organiser, with whom he had sailed and competed in his own sailing days.

“I crewed with him and competed with him for around 45 years. He was a brilliant sailor and was the manager of the Irish sailing team when they competed in the Olympic Games in Rome.”

Mr McClements also recalled the role played by Clayton Love Jnr in the Royal Cork Yacht Club, where he served as one of the body’s first admirals after it changed from being the Royal Munster Yacht Club.

 The CEO of the Cork City Chamber of Commerce, Conor Healy, said Mr Love had made a “significant contribution to the Chamber and had a very positive impact on the wider business landscape in Cork”, pointing to his role in developing the first shopping centres in Cork.

“Mr Love was also known for his work with the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Fota Wildlife Park and, most notably, for his great contribution as chair of Beamish & Crawford,” said Mr Healy.

“Our deepest condolences to his entire family, and our thoughts are with them at this time.”