FORMER IRISH Times director Derek McCullagh was “a benchmark of integrity, honesty and Christian charity” in an ever-changing world, mourners at his funeral yesterday were told.
These qualities were imbued with a sense of humour, fun and adventure, his son Colin told mourners in a tribute delivered on behalf of the family.
Friends, neighbours and former work colleagues turned out in large numbers at St John the Baptist Church in Clontarf to hear Colin McCullagh’s fond recollection of his father’s many roles as a family man, accountant, Irish Times board member, actor and tennis and rugby enthusiast.
Mr McCullagh (66) died last Friday after a short illness.
“You went out of your way to make any association of which you were a member a better, friendlier, fairer place,” his son recalled.
In The Irish Times, from which he retired in 2002, his father was happy to roll up his sleeves and pitch in when it was called for, whether for board meetings, Christmas parties, pensioners days or amateur cricket.
He would help to get the paper out each day.
His daughter Jennifer said her father was a wonderful man, “the best”, who in 42 years of marriage to Hazel “never turned his back, never let us down, never did an evil deed”. She then sang the hymn Great is thy Faithfulness.
The Rev Tom Haskins described Mr McCullagh as someone who gave unselfishly and was committed to whatever he undertook. “Generosity was the mark of everything he did. If I wanted someone who could apply a cool head and calm words to a problem, I would contact Derek.”
The chief mourners were his wife Hazel, sons Stephen, Colin and Gavin, and daughter, Jennifer.
The congregation included representatives of his many interests, including the Burrow Players amateur drama group, the National Print Museum, of which he was a director, and Old Wesley rugby club, where he was a past president.
The Irish Times was represented by managing director Liam Kavanagh, editor Geraldine Kennedy, deputy editor Paul O’Neill, and chairman of the Irish Times Trust, Prof David McConnell. Many former colleagues also attended, including former managing director Louis O’Neill, former deputy editor Pat O’Hara and former director of technology Séamus McCague.
The congregation included the president of Old Wesley, Gordon McCoy; former rugby international Philip Orr and businessman Howard Kilroy and his wife Meriel, Mr McCullagh’s sister-in-law. Also there were pensions ombudsman Paul Kenny, Irish Print Museum chairman John Harold and Robert Grier, former president of the Institute of Directors.
After the service, Mr McCullagh was brought to Glasnevin Cemetery for private cremation.
