Tributes are being paid following the death of Denis Leonard, a former director of Limerick Civic Trust.
The 62 year old was responsible for the foundation of the self-funding Conservation Society in 1983 which was the first of its kind in Ireland. The trust partakes in building, restoration and charity projects with an overall goal of improving life in the city.
“The effect that Denis Leonard has had on our City is immeasurable. Since he founded the Civic Trust in 1983, he has personally overseen some of the most significant restoration projects in Limerick including the stunning restoration of the Bishops Palace and the Georgian House and Garden and No. 2 Pery Square”, Harry Fehily, President of Limerick Chamber of Commerce said Monday.
“Denis’ life’s work was all about protecting our heritage and he has left behind a vast and very important legacy. We will be eternally grateful for what he has done for the City and his passing is a huge loss. On behalf of the Board and Staff of Limerick Chamber I would like to express our condolences to Denis’ wife and daughters and the rest of his extended family.”, Mr. Fehily concluded. Mr. Leonard also has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Limerick.
He died on Sunday following an illness. His last official act with the trust was in early November when he reopened the restored Richard Russell Drinking Fountain in the Peoples Park.
Tadhg Kearney who was involved in founding the Limerick Image Project Committee, the forerunner to the Limerick Civic Trust, with Mr. Leonard has said Denis was “one of Limerick’s greatest citizens of the past century”.
“The sudden death of Dr. Denis Leonard marks the passing of one of Limerick’s greatest citizens of the past century and certainly one of it’s most outstanding citizen of the past generation.
Denis loved Limerick, its history, people and most of all its built environment. As an act of patriotism he dedicated the bulk of his working life to the promotion of Limerick’s heritage and the preservation and restoration of many of Limerick’s landmarks, large and small, and many that would have been forgotten had it not been for Denis’ keen eye. In the bleak mid 1980’s, Denis gave up a safe and promising career in what we now call ‘financial services’ to dedicate himself to the Limerick Civic Trust, which he was responsible for founding and which became his life’s work.
An example of an early project by the Trust, the restoration of the derelict and almost forgotten Jewish Burial Ground in Castletroy helped heal wounds of Limerick’s history and was praised by the late Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork, Gerald Goldberg, as a generous act of reconciliation.
There was a strong practical streak to Denis’s outlook. Where possible, restored projects had to have a practical use and relevance to the present day. Derelict buildings that were brought back from ruins were given living relevance by being put to daily use in the service of the community, particular examples being the restored Bishops Palace on Kings Island and the Georgian House on Pery Square, which are hives of activity throughout the year.
“Denis now joins the ranks of other great Limerick citizens”, he added.
Limerick Mayor Kevin Kiely has said he was “deeply saddened” to hear the news of the death of Mr. Leonard.
“He was one hundred per cent dedicated to improving Limerick’s environment and he always had the city’s best interests at the heart of every project. I had started the process where I had hoped to make Denis a Freeman of Limerick and I will make a full statement about that process at a later stage”, The Mayor said.
His body will lie in repose in The Georgian House, Pery Square, on Tuesday from 3pm. Removal takes place Tuesday at 7pm to St. Paul’s Church, Dooradoyle. Funeral on Wednesday, after 12 noon Mass, to Castlemungret Cemetery
More information on Limerick Civic Trust can be found Here.
