THE death of Frank Barry (83) on Wednesday marked the passing of one of Ireland’s best-known, most successful and loved personalities. A quiet man who let his achievements speak volumes for his expertise, he was a man for whom I had the highest regard all my life.

Ever present in my career, Frank made many friends in the business and enjoyed the loyalty of all who transacted business with him. The sales world has been the poorer for his absence from the ringside in recent times, where he and Kevin Prendergast were a formidable alliance for many decades. Frank also forged notable associations with John Magnier, John Mulhern and Mick O’Toole.

In addition to being an enormously successful bloodstock agent, in both the National Hunt and flat spheres, he was the founder, with his beloved wife Liz, of Manister House Stud outside Croom in Co Limerick. The couple set it up 40 years ago and bred a number of top-class runners there. Their son Luke carries on the business today with continued success.

It was my great pleasure to introduce Frank as the recipient of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2012, honouring a distinguished career of many highs. Breeder of the dual Group 1 winner La Collina, trained by Kevin Prendergast, and also a pair of Cheltenham Festival winners, Frank was especially produced of La Collina, a daughter of Strategic Prince who won the Phoenix Stakes at two and later added the Matron Stakes to her record.

There was no better advertisement for Frank and Kevin Prendergast’s judgement than the fact that for an outlay of €70,000 at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale 10 years ago they purchased the 2009 Group 1 winning juveniles Termagant and Kingsfort. Termagant (Powerscourt) won a Leopardstown maiden before landing the Moyglare Stud Stakes, earning the accolade of champion juvenile filly in Ireland.

One of my earliest memories of Frank was his connection with Silver Buck, the Gold Cup winner who was sold at Ballsbridge where I was employed. Forgive N’Forget was another winner of chasing’s blue riband with whom he enjoyed an association. More recently, Manister House has sold the Grand National winner One For Arthur and the Group/Grade 1 flat and jumps winner Wicklow Brave.

Frank’s life was lived to the full and, in spite of illness in recent years, he was not a man to complain. He will be missed by so many people in the world of horseracing and breeding, but his loss will be most acutely felt by Liz, Luke and his wife Rebecca, grandchildren Alex, Freya and Petra, his brother Paddy, sisters Mary, Ann Lewis, Jean Sampson and Una Kennedy, and his many friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Bobby and Denis.

Frank’s requiem mass takes place today (Saturday) at 11am in St Michael’s Church, Manister, Croom, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only but donations may be made, in lieu, to the Injured Jockeys Fund or D.A.F.A.

L.P.