Brian Dennis who sadly passed away last week was described as ‘a gentleman’ and ‘a man for all seasons’ by his sons Mark and Peter. And if one looks at the description of Robert Bolt’s play A Man for all Seasons about Sir Thomas Moore, it describes the play’s main character as, ‘a man of principle, envied by his rivals, and loved by common people and his family’, and that, to me, sums up Brian.

Brian was a family man, a horseman, international swimmer, single handicap golfer, rugby player, Dublin GAA football supporter and a successful businessman. He was indeed a gentleman, impeccably dressed with style and presence. At a hunt or a function, he would have a word and a welcome for everybody, and endeared himself to a very wide community.

He lost his wife Sheila, an enthusiastic hunt follower of the Fingal Harriers, a number of years ago but years later he met Margaret McIvor who also sadly had lost her husband Pat early in life. But everybody knew that they were too young not to have a second chance in marriage, and what a combination they made.

Margaret is a member of the Jenkinson family, well known in farming circles in North County Dublin and Meath. She is a successful farmer and a former master of the Fingal Harriers who brought to the relationship her wonderful welcoming smile and personality that complimented Brian’s dapper style in any situation where people were present.

Despite being made for each other, many of us are still puzzled at how there was such harmony in the union as Brian was a staunch Fianna Fáil supporter and Margaret came from a family steeped in Fine Gael. Election time must have been interesting in the Dennis household!

Brian founded HB Dennis Motors in 1959 which developed into three Dublin outlets and he became a legend in the motor trade. I remember buying a number of cars from Brian. He never pushed for a sale but would make appropriate and relevant suggestions, but I always felt that he had a gift for sending subliminal messages that said, ‘buy from me’! If you bought once from him you would buy again. Indeed he had a remarkable record in the car business, when the Austin Mini was launched he sold over 1,000 cars in one year.

He held a number of directorships, including the Educational Building Society and was vice chairman of the VHI and was also president of the Irish Motor Society.

Brian was a keen swimmer who swam every day. He played water polo for Ireland, captaining the Irish team. He had a swimming pool in his garden and played open house to local children as he felt that every child should learn to swim.

It is said that most of the children in Clontarf learned to swim in Brian’s pool. He kept a stash of sweets in a press and the children knew if they learned to swim that they would be rewarded.

He played golf off a single handicap in Portmarnock and Royal Dublin, and won the Captain’s Prize at the latter club and was recognised for his contribution to both clubs by being made an honorary life member. He also got to the final of the prestigious Lord Mayor’s Cup in Clontarf Golf Club. An all-round sportsman, he played rugby for Clontarf Rugby Club and was a passionate supporter of the Dublin GAA football team.

HUNTING

He was a lifelong member of the Ward Union Staghounds, serving on the hunt committee and as honorary secretary. Brian was recognised for his contribution to the hunt by being appointed an honorary life member, an honour he also held in the Fingal Harriers. He started hunting with his good friend, former Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey, and kept his hunters at Abbeyville. At the time, the Wards were hunted by that great horseman Charlie McCann with Eamonn Dunphy whipping into him, who later became huntsman as did his nephew Pat Coyle who continues to hunt the hounds today.

They had some marvellous runs on good running deer. One day they enlarged in Dunsany in Co Meath and captured the deer in Donadea in Co Kildare after a 20-mile run! Brian was in good company hunting upsides some fine horsemen including Haughey, Stan Collen, Paddy Griffin, Basil Brindley, Larry Rohan, Tom Mangan, John Wentges, Tommy Brennan, Hugh Leonard, Joe Hardy and Philip O’Connor. Some of the gentlemen, but not all, and their spouses had a very workable hunting arrangement.

While they hunted with the Wards, their respective wives hunted with the Fingal Harriers. Both parties knew how to enjoy themselves at some great celebratory watering holes like Andy McGranes in Balscadden, Gerry Murtagh’s in Ballough, Gormley’s in Garristown and O’Connors in Ballyboughal.

Any friend of Brian’s could be sure that he would always do them a good turn, no matter what the crisis, he would be there to support without fear or favour. That old school loyalty to people will be sadly missed.

Brian Dennis will be missed by a wide circle of friends and hunting companions, but particularly by his wife Margaret, sons Peter, Mark and John, brother Harry, daughters-in-law Oonagh, Collette and Sile, step children Tony, Hazel, Henry and Bill, grandchildren, great grandchildren, his extended family and a wide circle of friends.

Noel Mullins