THE recent and untimely passing of JJ Harty has robbed the sporting world of a friend and talent that won’t be easily replaced. He was for many years the able and hardworking chairman of the Cork Waterford Point-To-Point Association. Chairman of his local pack, the Cloyne Harriers, and more recently chairman of the Irish Masters of Harriers Association, to these and his many other roles, JJ brought diplomacy and enthusiasm tempered with a huge amount of sound common sense. Never unstinting with his time, his support and advice was always available to those who sought it.

Having qualified as an agricultural scientist around 1970, JJ held many posts in the advisory service before taking a master’s degree in agriculture and becoming principal of Clonakilty Agricultural College, a position he held until retirement. He became chairman of the International Farm Management Association and organised and chaired their international conference held in Cork which was attended by delegates from over 20 countries.