The late Jim Loughlin It was hard to miss Jim Loughlin when you met him on the street. A big man in every sense of the word, his death had brought sadness to his family, friends and many business acquaintances. He shot to fame with his successful and audacious plan to develop the Friary Street car park site. He and his brother Eddie proved the doubters wrong and turned it into an excellent scheme. Jim was always in good form and carried his big frame lightly. He had a great love of all sports, especially rugby, hurling and soccer. He was a talented basketball player and played Gaelic football in his youth with is native Moneenroe. But it is as a fine human being, always ready to do a favour for a friend or acquaintance, that he will be best remembered. Jim passed away in Dublin in St James's Hospital, surrounded by members of his family. The successful business man came originally from Moneenroe and never forgot his roots. The 63-year-old started his career as a coalminer outside Castlecomer and then emigrated to England where he served his apprenticeship as an electrician. For many years he ran a successful electrical engineering business on Friary Street before he and his brother Eddie developed the site to what it is today. They moved their business to the Goal Road in 2000. Jim's remains were removed from St Patrick's Church, Kilkenny and burial was at the family plot, adjacent to the Church of the Scared Heart in Moneenroe. He is survived by his wife Linda; sons Jason, Morgan and Leighton; grandson Cian; brothers Eddie and Paddy; sisters Renie, Liz, Jane, Ann and Teresa; nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, other relatives and friends. PS: I will never forget his kindness to a female driver who was being harassed by a male driver behind her on High Street. He told her to drive up Friary Street where he opened the gates of the site which was being developed, brought her in and calmed her down. She parked there for an hour, got all her shopping done and went home in good form. Thank you Jim for that. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 9 February 2007 Tweet

Most Read Stories