EAMON McElroy, racehorse owner and former steward of the Turf Club, died peacefully on Wednesday at St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin.

His funeral mass takes place today (Saturday) at 10am in the Church of the Assumption in Howth.

From Belfast, McElroy started his working career in a bank branch in Dungannon and worked his way through the ranks to become the managing director of AIB’s British business. He served as President of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland before taking retirement in 1997.

In more recent times he was chairman of Northern Ireland’s Local Enterprise Development Unit, and held numerous company and public body directorships.

He became a member of the Turf Club in 1998 and has served on its Finance Committee, as a director of Tote Ireland and Dundalk Stadium. In 2015 he became a member of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee and also became a Steward of the Turf Club, serving alongside Meta Osborne, Harry McCalmont, Gerry Magee and Caroline Corballis.

A lifelong fan of horse racing, he had horses with Noel Meade and also some in partnership with Coolmore. Aidan O’Brien sent him good wishes immediately after watching Auguste Rodin win the Derby last Saturday.

Meta Osborne said: “Eamon was one of nature’s gentlemen. He always listened to other people’s points of view and gave great counsel. I didn’t know him before we worked together as Stewards but I found him to be a wonderful support and a very decent person. I grew more fond of him as I got to know him. Obviously he was very accomplished in his own sphere too but he wore that lightly, which is probably why he was so successful and why he got on so well with everyone.”

McElroy once told the Belfast Telegraph: “I love the people in horse racing ... people who buy horses and are involved in horse racing are born optimists. They have the same enthusiasm that entrepreneurs have and they also like to succeed – like I do.”

Predeceased by his first wife Una, he is survived by wife Sheena, son Joe, daughter-in-law Una, brothers Michael and Dr Joe, sisters-in-law Veronica and Ann.

Today’s funeral mass will be followed by burial at St Fintan’s Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations, in lieu, to St. Francis Hospice.