Cork TD praises late John Mullins for helping so many people ‘behind the scenes’

The late John Mullins was a kind and decent man who did a lot of good work that was never publicised, a former political rival who was also his friend has said.

Mr Mullins, who passed away suddenly at home on Monday morning at the age of 57, was a Fine Gael candidate in Ireland South in last June’s European parliamentary elections, polling 33,281 first preferences.

Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, said Mr Mullins had unsuccessfully contested against him for selection years earlier, “and then he had the good sense of going down the business route, and he did very well”.

“He was very successful in business, in the companies he was involved in, but then he also worked very hard in relation to sporting organisations, especially the GAA, and he packed a huge amount in throughout his life, whether it was sports, politics, or business, and he did it all very well,” Mr Burke said.

“He was very involved in a whole lot of things behind the scenes that people wouldn’t know about, and he helped a lot of people.

“Whatever he took on, he took on with vigour and determination that what needed to be delivered was delivered.”

A native of Blarney St and raised in Bishopstown, Mr Mullins had been living in Castlemartyr in recent years.

A former chief executive of Bord Gáis, and group chairman of clean energy firm Amarenco Solar, Mr Mullins also served as chairman of the Port of Cork board between 2013 and 2018.

Ann Doherty, chief executive at the Port of Cork Company, said Mr Mullins would be greatly missed by all at the Port of Cork and across the wider Cork community.

Mr Mullins is survived by his wife Siobhan and their children Michael and Sarah.

Liturgy of the Word for Mr Mullins will take place at 1pm today, Holy Thursday, in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy’s Cross, with funeral afterwards at the Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Ringaskiddy.