The death has occurred of Billy Browne (83) ‘Lisheen Cottage’ , Limerick Road, Castleisland, Co. Kerry and formerly Brownes Mineral Waters, Castleisland and Gilbeys of Ireland.
Peacefully at home, on July 6th 2024, with his family by his side. Sadly missed by his loving wife Norma, son Billy, daughters Denise, Trudi and Emma, sons-in-law Seb, Louis and Roger, his 11 grandchildren Alison, Billy J, Matthew, Eve, Harry, Beth, Sam, Jack, Charlie and Ben, their partners Catherine and Blatheen, his cherished great grandchildren Ryan and Caoimhe, adored sister Clare, his brothers Ted and Declan, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Predeceased by his infant daughter Siobhán, his parents Neily and Joan, his sister Jean, brothers John and Junior and his daughter-in-law Mairead.
May His Gentle Soul Rest In Peace.
Deep Community Involvement
There was a time over several recent decades during which you wouldn’t go through an edition of The Kerryman without seeing a photograph or two of Billy Browne.
This was because of the generosity with which his widely recognised family business, Browne’s Mineral Waters interacted and supported community events reaching all corners of the county and probably beyond.
Race meetings, golf tournaments great and small, community bazaars and festivals sent their cap wearing members to Browne’s Mineral Waters.
They came, caps in hands, initially from the 1950s to the old Limerick Road base and then, from the early 1970s when the Davy Griffin owned greeen-field site became the truly modern Browne’s Mineral Water Distribution and Bottling Plant on the Tralee Road.
Got ‘The Start’ at Browne’s
From here the Browne brothers sent lorries loaded with crates of minerals and, later on, kegs of something stronger to pubs and hotels throughout the county.
The departure of the lorries, with a driver and helper, bore their own testament to the quality of the product on board and to the prowess of its ambassador and salesman, Billy Browne and his team.
There was little going on in the county at the time that Browne’s didn’t have a hand in and there’s still a healthy band of locals who’ll tell you that they ‘got the start’ during their summer holidays at Browne’s.
Billy Browne asked my parents if they’d look after The Railway Bar in Ballybunion for the long summer season of 1959. I would be six years of age on the September of that year and I remember so much of the excitement of the sea-side town, the scent of the sea, the sound of the seagulls and the first taste of seagrass and periwinkles.
Made their Mark
Billy Browne would have been in his late teenage years at that time and it shows how deeply involved he was in the drinks and hospitality business at that relatively young age and in one of the leading resorts in the country at that time.
He and his family certainly made their mark and contributed more than their due to the commercial life of their native town. May God be good to him.
Billy’s Funeral Arrangements
Reposing at Tangney’s Funeral Home, Church Street, Castleisland, on Monday evening from 5pm-7pm.
Removal from his residence on Tuesday morning at 10.30am, arriving to Castleisland Parish Church for Requiem Mass ar 11am. Burial afterwards in Kilbannivane Cemetery, Castleisland. The Mass will be livestreamed on www.churchservices.tv/castleisland
Date Published: Sunday 7th July 2024. Date of Death: Saturday 6th July 2024
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