NEWS of Jonathan Irwin’s passing came as a shock, for he was no great age, by modern standards. He was from an old Anglo-Irish family. Jonathan’s grandfather had been headmaster of Wesley College, Dublin.

By contrast, his parents were thespians, successful both in the West End and in the Abbey. Their incomes paid for Jonathan’s Eton education as a prelude to his entering Trinity College, Dublin, in 1958. Within a year Jonathan had found his true vocation, employed as a trainee bloodstock agent by Tim Vigors and Tom Cooper in Merrion Square.

In 1965 Jonathan founded and launched a monthly magazine, The Irish Horseman, accepting articles from one youngster writing on Irish racing history. The 10 shilling stipend was sufficient to form what was – many years later – to become a livelihood. All credit where it is due – to Jonathan Irwin.

Two years later Jonathan hit the jackpot, courtesy of Fatima’s Gift. Selected by Jonathan as a yearling for just 610 guineas, this daughter of Hook Money won the coveted Phoenix Park ‘1500’ of 1967 for Dr Jerome Torsney and Curragh trainer Stephen Quirke and was subsequently exported to the USA.

Jonathan was headhunted in 1974 by the McGrath family to rescue Goffs Sales, then in jeopardy following the loss of their age-old auction premises in Ballsbridge, sold by the RDS to become the site of the AIB headquarters.

Taking the view that the days of carting valuable bloodstock into the heart of our capital city for the purpose of being offered at auction were gone, and no harm either, Jonathan secured ample land outside Kill in Co Kildare. There he had built a custom-made bloodstock sales operation featuring the spectacular circular auction building which holds sway today as his monument. Goffs at Kill opened in 1975.

Phoenix Park

Some years after Jonathan was again headhunted, this time by Vincent O’Brien, following the closure of the Phoenix Park racecourse. With Robert Sangster’s assistance, chairman Vincent O’Brien secured the racecourse for £2 million. On Easter Saturday, April 2nd, 1983 the Phoenix Park racecourse reopened for business, all races sponsored, naturally.

Two years later the Phoenix Champion Stakes was inaugurated, given Group 1 status from the very first running, won by Commanche Run. In 1988 came the Cartier Million – the first £1 million sporting event in Europe – won by Tommy Stack’s charge, Corwyn Bay. The following year. A fundamental disagreement with his chairman Michael Dargan over work styles saw Jonathan part company with his creation, Goffs of Kill Paddocks.

Yet again Jonathan was quickly snapped up, this time by Tony Ryan, specifically to bring Ryanair upmarket. He would be working alongside Michael O’Leary, whose ideas were diametrically different.

Many years later, chatting in his home on the Mount Juliet estate, Jonathan recalled playing mind games with his colleague.

One involved getting into the office increasingly early of a morning. Every time Jonathan upped the ante, Michael would cap it the very next day. Having made his point Jonathan moved on, no doubt realising that he was losing beauty sleep in competition with a man his junior by a decade or more.

He and Mary Ann saw their lives change, permanently, in 1996, with the birth of their son Jack, a brother to Lily, Phonsie and Molly, incurably brain damaged.

Jonathan resorted to quoting from Theognis, a sixth century Greek poet and philosopher: “Hope is the only good God remaining.”

Rapidly realising that the only recourse for parents in similar predicaments was abandonment of those stricken children to Crumlin Hospital, Jonathan and Mary Ann set up Jack & Jill. It is a palliative care organisation to help the families of incurable infants.

It fills a void in general medical welfare that had existed since the foundation of the Irish state.

In a very short space of time Jack & Jill achieved a national profile and nationwide network through tireless publicity and innovative fundraising, such as the recycling of otherwise disposable mobile telephones and other electrical gadgets.

As the 20th century drew to its close Jonathan suffered another personal tragedy with the death in Portugal of his 18-year-old son Sam, Pirate’s brother from Jonathan’s first marriage.

As co-founder and promoter of Jack & Jill, Jonathan always confined his publicity fundraising efforts to the movement, scrupulously avoiding any retrospective personal profiling.

Despite what many thought his uncharacteristic self-effacement Jonathan received well-deserved recognition when declared Rehab Person of the Year in 2004. Three years later fundraising specific to Jack & Jill amounted for the year 2007 to €2.4 million.

JONATHAN Irwin’s funeral service will take place today (Saturday) at noon in Ballinure Church, Grangecon, Co Wicklow (W91YW74), and will be followed by interment of ashes in the adjoining churchyard.

The former managing director of Goffs and manager of the Phoenix Park Racecourse passed away last Sunday, following a short illness. He was 82.

He was appointed managing director of Goffs in 1975 at the age of just 33 and oversaw the company over the next 15 years.

In the early 1980s he also managed the Phoenix Park Racecourse and is credited with the creation of the Cartier Million, a £1 million race confined to Goffs-sold yearlings. The concept has been copied worldwide.

Legacy lives on

On Sunday afternoon Goffs issued a statement, saying: “Jonathan was certainly one of the most colourful bloodstock characters of his generation and his legacy lives on in the modern day Goffs.

“As well as overseeing the design of the complex, he approached the whole business in an innovative and charismatic way. Shouting bid spotters, international guest auctioneers, black tie select sales and the first multi-currency bid board at any auction in the world, an innovation that was almost instantly copied by the likes of Sotheby’s and Christie’s, were amongst his ideas that have stood the test of time.

“European records were regularly set from the outset with the first sale setting the trend with the IR127,000 guineas Be My Guest being followed nine years later by a Shergar colt realising IR3,100,000 guineas (equivalent to €4.2 milion today), an Irish auction record that stood for 39 years.

“The Cartier Million was another revolutionary brainchild under Jonathan’s tenure and is a concept that has been developed with such success to this day.”

Goffs chairman Eimear Mulhern said: “It is with great regret that we hear of the passing of Jonathan Irwin. Jonathan was a titan of the bloodstock industry, transforming and modernising a business which heretofore had been routed in tradition.

“He inspired a whole generation, of which I am one, as to a new way to market and promote the business in a truly innovative way. His contribution to Goffs was immense and we are still the beneficiaries of his vision to this day.

“On behalf of the shareholders and board of Goffs we send our deepest and most sincere sympathy to his wife Mary Anne, his children, his extended family and wide circle of friends.”

Goffs CEO Henry Beeby added: “Jonathan was a truly inspirational character who revolutionised the way European thoroughbred auctions were conducted. A true showman, he oozed charisma and I learned a huge amount from him over the years so much so that we still aspire to his lofty standards to this day.”

As a mark of respect Goffs observed a minute’s silence at 11am on Monday in advance of the Goffs December NH Sale.

Jonathan Irwin is survived by his wife Mary Ann O’Brien and their children Lily, Phonsie and Molly. He is predeceased by their sons Jack and John.

Jack died in infancy in 1996, prompting Jonathan and Mary Ann to found the Jack and Jill Foundation, a charity which supports families who have severely handicapped new-born children.

Jonathan also leaves behind, by his first wife Mikaela, their sons Pirate, Jago and Luke. He is predeceased by son Sam from his first marriage.