'Part of the very fabric of the town' - Tributes paid after passing of Drogheda businessman

Tributes have flooded in following the sad news of the passing of Jim Corcoran, whose family ran a popular business in the heart of Drogheda town for decades.

Jim died peacefully, in the wonderful care of the staff at the Beacon Hospital, Dublin surrounded by his loving family.

In a touching tribute, the Drogheda Chamber said that the death of Jim Corcoran at the weekend "brought the curtain down on another chapter in the history of the town", in particular the rich tapestry of Dyer Street, where the Corcoran family were synonymous with business and trade for so many years.

The Corcoran name is synonymous with Dyer Street since Jim's father Bernard Corcoran set up shop there in 1939 and later went on to also develop a public house trade.

Jim closed up his premises on the street in 2019 and said goodbye to a lifetime of memories and customers, many of whom were friends for 50 or 60 years.

Drogheda Chamber described Jim as "part of the very fabric of the town", saying that "he gave every day of his life to its betterment".

"He served in many roles, always with a Drogheda First mentality," the Chamber said in a tribute. "He was a driving force in the Drogheda Traders Association and was part of the Bonanza committee. He was a foremost member of Drogheda Chamber and chaired the retail committee. If ever a good and honest quote was needed, he was the man to see".

As was fitting, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chamber in 2007, a token for what he achieved and inspired for so many years.

He also loved his racing and was a cornerstone of the Bellewstown Races.

Jim was predeceased, recently, by his beloved wife Mabel and both now reunited in Heaven with their first born baby son Denis, as well as his mother Jean, father Bernard, twin sister Ann, their aunt Leila and sisters-in-law Helen and Denise.

The beloved Drogheda businessman is sadly missed by his loving family, including his daughter Averill, grandchildren Ava and Callan and son-in-law of Craig, sisters Dorothy and Mary, sisters-in-law Terry, Aileen and Marina, brothers-in-law Bruce, Pat, Michael and Denis, his nieces and nephews Aisling, Michael, Nuala, Elaine, Vivienne, Emma, Rodney, Shane, Jonathan, Sonia, Deirdre, David, Jennifer, Gregory, Timothy and Ian.

Jim will also be missed by cousins, relatives, kind neighbours and many dear friends, especially Eddie, both here and in Australia and and colleagues and friends at Bellewstown Racecourse (Hill of Crockafotha) and Drogheda Chamber of Commerce.

Many were quick to add tributes to the businessman's death notice, with Chamber CEO Hubert Murphy saying a "great void has been left for his family and friends. We salute him with two simple but precious words - thank you”.

The Boyne German Shepard Dog Club added: "Words cannot adequately express the loss we feel today on Jim's death. Our group is often more family than Club and Jim was its patriarch. He was always available with kind words of help and advice from so many years of wisdom to dog owners".

Another condolence described him as "a gentleman of great intelligence", and said he was "an icon in Dyer Street".

Jim Corcoran will repose at F Watson & Son Funeral Directors, Dyer St (A92 W7EP) on Tuesday evening from 4.30pm until 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday morning at 11am in Church of the Sacred Heart, Laytown with burial afterwards in Reilig Mhuire, Piltown.