'The life and soul': Tributes paid to publican Jack Forde

Tributes have poured in for legendary Cork publican Jack Forde, who died in CUH this week.

The owner of Jack Forde’s The Shandon Arms bar, Mr Forde is survived by his wife Marie, children Shay, Gillian, Kevin, John, David, and Susan, and grandchildren Sam, Eoin, Evan, Ben, Lucy, Jack, Abbie, and Carrie, as well as brothers Tony, Frank, and Teddy, and sisters Ann and Val.

His removal took place at Coughlan’s Funeral Home, Shandon Street on Wednesday, followed by a funeral yesterday at The North Cathedral.

Mr Forde’s cousin, Fine Gael councillor for the North West ward, Damian Boylan, said his passing was sad for the entire community.

He told The Echo: “Of all my cousins, and I have loads of cousins on the northside, Jack Forde is probably my most famous cousin.

“The Shandon Arms was the centre of so much, it was an ever-present part of my life from the time I was a child going in with my grandfather. It’s very sad. It’s the end of an era both for the northside and for my family.”

Michael O’Donovan, owner of the Castle Inn on South Main Street and president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, also paid tribute to Mr Forde.

He told The Echo: 

“When I joined the Cork Vintners Golf Society 20 years ago, Jack Forde was one of the senior members. I’ll always remember the golf was one thing, but he really enjoyed after the golf, the 19th hole — he was the life and soul.

“He would always be leading a sing-song. I remember a few memorable trips to Spain and other counties in Ireland. Jack was always great fun, he entertained us all.”