Anna-Marie Flynn
THE business community of Ballina was in shock last week as news spread of the death of one of the town’s best-known faces.
Nance Barrett, mother of Treasury Holding’s Chief Executive, and Ireland’s largest developer, Richard Barrett, died suddenly on Wednesday last at the family home, ‘Bartra’, Quay Road, Ballina.
Mrs Barrett (nee Murphy) was formerly of Sandycove, Dublin, before she met and married Seamus Barrett of Barrett’s wholesale, Barrett Street in the town. The couple settled in Mayo and Mrs Barrett became a very familiar face in the town. She was heavily involved in the Irish Association of the Blind and aptly, on her passing, donations were welcomed in lieu of flowers.
The centre of Ballina came to a standstill as her remains were removed from McGowan’s Funeral Home to St Muredach’s Cathedral where Requiem Mass was celebrated on Saturday morning last. The late Mrs Barrett was laid to rest at Leigue cemetery.
She is survived by her husband; three sons, Richard, Paul and Joseph; three daughters, Susan, Jeanne and Anne; and sisters Marguerite and Doris.
Son Richard, a barrister and economist, set up Treasury Holdings with John Ronan in 1989 and is a member of the Advisory Board of Harvard University Graduate School of Design for Urban Development. Last year, the self-starter embarked on his biggest project to date in the construction of a €1 billion ‘green city’ in South Africa.
At the weekend, the directors and staff of Treasury Holdings expressed their sincere sympathies to CEO Richard Barrett and his family on the death of his mother.
