Daniel 'Dan' Browne, co-founder of Dawn Meats, dies aged 88

Sarah Slater

Daniel “Dan” Browne, the co-founder of Dawn Meats, has died at the age of 88.

Mr Browne, from Grantstown, Waterford, and formerly of Douglas and Fermoy, Co Cork, died peacefully at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) on Tuesday.

He was managing director of the company for 27 years and was at the helm as it developed into one of Europe's leading meat-processing companies.

In a company statement they said Mr Browne was "a pioneering figure in Irish agriculture" who made an "outstanding contribution to the Irish agri-food industry, and the meat industry in particular”.

Mr Browne began his career as a research scientist. He worked with the agricultural research institute, An Foras Talúntais (now Teagasc) in Wexford, before moving back to Cork in 1959, where he developed a national dairy research centre at Moorepark, outside Fermoy.

15 years later, Mr Browne joined the meat industry, becoming manager of the Cork Marts - IMP plant at Midleton.

In 1980, along with John Queally and the late Peter Queally, he established Dawn Meats. Mr Browne retired from his role as managing director in 2007 but continued to be a board member of the company.

He also chaired the boards of Teagasc from 1993 to 1998 and Bord Bia from 2008 to 2011.

"Mr Browne was a pioneering figure in Irish agriculture and made an outstanding contribution to the Irish agri-food industry, and the meat industry in particular," the company statement added.

"He was a remarkable leader and visionary, serving as Managing Director of Dawn Meats for 27 years and developing the business into one of Europe’s leading meat processing companies.

“He was also a valued member of the board of Dawn Meats and through his wise counsel, he continued to play a key role in the further success of the company. Through his work at Dawn Meats and his wider contribution to agriculture and the agri-food industry, Mr Browne leaves a lasting legacy and he will be greatly missed.”

Mr Browne is survived by his wife, Kay, children Paddy, Aoidin, Colm, Niall and ten grandchildren. His son, Niall, has served as Chief Executive of Dawn Meats since 2007.

Reposal will take place at his family home on Thursday from 2pm to 6pm with his Requiem Mass taking place on Friday at St Mary’s Church, Ballygunner at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

The company board expressed their deepest sympathies to Mr Browne’s family.