DICK Johnson recently passed away but his was a long life, a life well lived, and he died at home surrounded as he would have wished by his family.

From Rathkeale, he came from a family steeped in farming and horses, hunting and all that is good in country life. It was a family with strong veterinary and legal connections. The second of four boys, his elder brother Donal was also a well known veterinary surgeon, heavily involved in the world of show jumping. The legal connections came through his uncle and cousin and namesake, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, who rose to be Chief Justice of Ireland.