RIP Ben Dunne

Annasopra

Reports of death of Ben Dunne formerly of Dunnes Stores, owner of Ben Dunne Gyms has died

https://extra.ie/2023/11/18/news/irish-news/businessman-ben-dunne-dies-aged-74

MrMusician18

When the thread gets pulled you don't know where the unraveling will stop.

Who could have known at the time what his coke fuelled breakdown in Florida would have ended up.

To be fair, he was quite the businessman, bouncing right back with his gyms.

RIP.

Xander10

Rip to the man.

Some horrible comments on here, earlier than usual

thestar

What part of Cork was he born in?

Manc-Red_

Use to go to his gym myself and had a brief chat with him in Lucan.

Lots of bad comments that reflects the person saying them really. I didn’t know him so the only thing I can do is say is RIP.

mailforkev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386535#Comment_121386535

His father founded DS, not him.

JP Liz V1

Ben Dunne has died in Dubai at the age of 74

RIP

Arthur Daley

Remember when the IRA lifted him in Portadown in 1981. He was a character.

Then they or some other Republicans did the same to the MD of Quinnsworth Don Tidy a year or two later.

As if the business was going to be commercially disabled if one man was tied up in the back bedroom of a council house for a few weeks.

batman75

He came across publically as personable though like most successful people in business I imagine he was ruthless. I imagine the kidnapping may have accounted for him going off the rails in Florida that time. Always got the feeling that Margaret Heffernan was always the driving force and that Ben junior liked the high life. Maybe wrong of course. He has died at the same age his father was. Apparently a heart attack.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386660#Comment_121386660

It wasn't about disabling the business. It was about extracting money from the wealthy family of the kidnapped individual in exchange for said individual being returned unharmed.

In the instance of Ben Dunne the Provo:s got £1 million I believe.

twowheelsonly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386480#Comment_121386480

Douglas I think. Family moved from Douglas to Blackrock and then to Ringmahon House

alan partridge aha

RIP big Fella

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386426#Comment_121386426

Sad to see some Irish people still have the mindset bate into us by the upper class colonisers.

Very rich people give some of us some low paying jobs for the purpose of making themselves even richer and so we all need to drop to our knees in praise and weep at their coffins.

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386535#Comment_121386535

Wrong Ben Dunne, Senior founded Dunnes.

65535

He apologised to years ago to Mary Manning live on Radio 1 (Joe Duffy) - (she lost her home and emigrated to Australia)

His big old house in Blackrock (CORK CITY) is now known as 'Cork College of FET Youthreach Centre'

I remember back in the mid '60's going into Dunnes Stores in Saint Patrick's Street in Cork City - a forklift would drive into this 'supermarket' and drop a pallet of sugar on the ground - everyone then decended on it to grab a 2lb bag or two of sugar which would have been nearly half price of local shops at that time.

Have a listen to Christy Moore - he explains what happened in Moore Street in Dublin

https://youtu.be/TER_M3KNVCE?si=PXcNP_jadv0jdaHV

whisky_galore

Business people build businesses to enrich themselves. If they make peoples' lives better it's just a side effect. Business people generally don't get ahead without treading on toes.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386844#Comment_121386844

Get a grip on yourself for the love of God and don't be such a drama queen with your batings from the upper class and dropping to your knees and crying at their coffins. That might be your family history but it's not true for the majority of Irish people.

Working class people and those unemployed during the recessions were dam glad that Dunnes existed when times were tough and money was tight.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387197#Comment_121387197

Doesn't mean you have to like the people you work for.

Being employed is not a charity. You are providing a service to a person and in exchange both people get money out of it (but the employer usually more than the employee)

So fuk this Downtown Abbey doffing the cap bullsht. If someone thinks Dunne was a prick I don't see the issue.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386535#Comment_121386535

Just to add to this don't forget the Dunnes workers who helped end Apartheid (as it was then) in SA.

mariaalice

He always seemed like a nice guy trying his best, his father and family seemed to horrible though.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386913#Comment_121386913

That’s far too black and white. Business people are why we have what we have, generally.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387223#Comment_121387223

There's no need to explain what employment means or how business works breezy, these are basic things we all learn in primary school.

There's nobody saying you're not allowed call the man a prick either work away with all the insults you have festering away inside you.

I haven't a clue what Downtown Abbey is or where you are seeing "doffing the cap bullshit".

It just so happens we have different views on the man.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386844#Comment_121386844

Irish people use their drive to open businesses and make society better and create jobs and taxes and you’re waffling about “upper class colonisers?”😖

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387197#Comment_121387197

Absolutely

Ridiculously silly post from breezy

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387365#Comment_121387365

What do we have? Generally?

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387391#Comment_121387391

Businesses, products, services, life!!! You think it all just magically happens for the majority people who just punch in their average 9-5 jobs? Society and life is a team effort, but it’s business people who drive it!!! With help, of course..

The man was straight talking and honest, had humility where it was needed. Rest in peace, Ben.

Loyal Lady

Some nice comments from Leo.

SteM

No matter how I felt about a person I'd never come on to an RIP thread to abuse them. Same way I'd never shout 'he was a prick' at a passing funeral procession, I'd just just keep quiet. Maybe it's how I was raised.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387851#Comment_121387851

Exactly. The man was a husband, and father of four children.

KaneToad

It must be very sad for his family and friends. He was not a particularly old man.

On the non personal side, he was someone who lived a life of wealth of privilege. He had a terrible event - being kidnapped & held hostage by IRA - that undoubtedly shaped his adult life. He was a good example of what was wrong with Ireland of the 80's/90's - throwing money around to buy politicians. He was a frank speaker which some mistake as a breath of fresh air. But, like Michael O'Leary, it's easy to be frank with vast wealth & privilege.