Enright, Jim
May 12, 2011James Enright, a retired Garda Chief Superintendent and latterly an Aberdeen Angus cattle farmer, passed away on Friday April 15th following a short illness. He was eight-two years old.
Born in 1929, he was raised on a farm in Carrig Island off the north coast of Kerry near Ballylongford. He joined An Garda Siochana in 1952 after a short period with the Irish Army Air Corps.
Over the next thirty seven years he progressed through the ranks, stationed in the Dublin Metropolitan Area until 1978, Store Street, Dublin Castle, Kevin Street and HQ before being transferred to Macroom in Co. Cork as a Superintendent.
He developed a reputation as a thorough and professional Officer, but one who approached all crime with great compassion. His work during formative decades in the history of the Republic, between the 1950s and 1980s, was described in his official employment record as exemplary.
In August 1983 Jim encountered a personal tragedy when his wife Esther, daughter Cliona and mother-in-law Molly were killed when their car was hit in a collision on the Cork Macroom road.
That loss could have destroyed his life at the age of fifty -four. Instead he inspired many by the way in which he responded.
He went on to be appointed Chief Superintendent in 1985 before retiring in 1989 from his last posting in Bandon. In 1987 he purchased some land near Lissarda in Co. Cork on which he built a new house and upon retirement returned to one of his great loves farming.
After experimenting with sheep farming the settled on developing a pure bred Aberdeen Angus cattle herd.
These won him a number of pedigree prizes and his output was much sought after by progressive farmers. His animals were known for their fine finish and docility, attributes that reflected his quality of care for nature.
Alongside his farming venture Jim was a great sports enthusiast. From cricket to athletics and soccer to rugby he had a keen eye for excellence on the playing field.
He took up golf late in life and became a valued member of both the Macroom and Killarney golf clubs.
However, his true sports passion was for Gaelic games and his beloved Kerry senior football team. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Kerry squad and followed their league and championship progress with forensic attention to results and individual performances.
Jim's coffin was draped in the Tricolour, and was shouldered to his grave by a Garda detail, an appropriate tribute to his service for the Irish Republic.
He was a formidable advocate of all things Irish, from its native language which he could speak fluently, to its sports people and all those who promoted Ireland positively on the international stage.
Jim will be sorely missed by his daughters Brigin, Sinead and Siofradh together with the five grandchildren he doted over, Sean Daire, James, Emmett, Cliona and Soracha. He also leaves behind four brothers Tom, Johnny, Gerry and Mick.
Courtesy of the Kerry's Eye
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