‘He was the life and soul of the Thomond’: Tributes paid to late Cork publican

The proprietor of the popular Thomond Bar on Cork’s Marlboro St, Rea Kennedy, who passed away on Saturday, has been remembered as “a complete gentleman and an absolute character”.

Mr Kennedy had suffered a long illness, and news of his passing was shared on his bar’s social media accounts.

Yvonne Brady, manager of the Thomond Bar, told The Echo that the staff and regulars in the bar were “beyond devastated” at the news of Mr Kennedy’s passing.

“He was just such a lovely man, he was the best boss and a great friend. He was the life and soul of the Thomond and the heart of the place,” she said.

“It’s all anyone can talk about.People are in a daze after hearing the bad news. They can’t believe it. He was just such a brilliant person, it’s hard to believe.”

A major Munster rugby fan, Mr Kennedy had owned the Thomond bar for more than 20 years, under its previous name of Waxy’s, and he previously owned the Brewery Tap in Blackpool, Ms Brady said.

“He was a complete gentleman and an absolute character.”

Rugby

Under Mr Kennedy, the pub became synonymous with Munster rugby, but also with Manchester United, despite the owner being an avowed Newcastle supporter.

“One of the regulars is a Manchester United fan, starting a fan club club in the pub” Ms Brady explained.

“The last picture taken of Rea was when the Munster rugby team called in to see him, and they left him out of Marymount for a couple of hours.

“He was like the cat that got the cream, he was over the moon to see them,” she said.

Michael O’Donovan, proprietor of the Castle Inn on South Main St and president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said he had been saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Kennedy.

Helpful

“Rea was a great member of the Vintners Federation for a long number of years, he ran bars in Cork over a long period of time, and he’ll be sadly missed, I know by his wife Ruth and his daughter Sophie, but by his fellow publicans as well,” Mr O’Donovan said.

“He was the former chair of both Cork city and county vintners, and he was always very helpful to publicans in the region.

“We shared many a night out after meetings and trips to Dublin, and Rea was always the heart and soul of the party, he was always great fun, and he will be sorely missed.”

The Thomond Bar will be closed to the public from 3pm on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday.

Mr Kennedy will repose at Jerh O’Connor’s Temple Hill Funeral Home, Boreenmanna Rd, on Tuesday, January 6, from 5pm to 6pm.

Requiem Mass at 10.30am on Wednesday, January 7, in St Michael’s Church Blackrock, and funeral afterwards to St Oliver’s Cemetery.