RIP: Irish 'legend' Christy Maye paid tribute as towering figure in business world

Tributes have poured in for Christopher Maye, better known as Christy Maye, a well-known figure in the Irish hospitality and entertainment industry, Longford Live has reported.

Christy created opportunities and employment for so many people, and brought a unique sense of warmth and family to every business he touched.

A towering figure in the world of hospitality and entertainment, it can be said that disco music in Ireland all began with Christy's own brainchild, ‘Disc A Go Go’ in 1965, Longford Live reports.

He was one of the founder members of the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show in the early 1990s and played a key role in the event up to his retirement in recent years. He was also a cherished and valued member of Tullamore Lions Club for 45 years.

Christy was also a farmer, hotel owner and owned multiple businesses.

Christy passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 31 following a short illness bravely borne under the wonderful care of the medical staff in the Hermitage Clinic, Lucan.

Christy will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his family, his wife Ellen, his son Jason, his daughters Jillian (Cleary) and Lee-Anne and son in law David Cleary, his adored grandchildren, Anna and James, Holly and Heidi, his brother Johnny, sisters Kathleen (Hoare), Mary (Freak) (Australia), Carmel (Cashel) and Madeline (O’Scolai) (Canada), sisters in law and brothers in law, The Norris Family (Curragh, Rosemount), his nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours his many friends, staff members from the Greville Arms Hotel, Danny Byrnes, The Bridge Centre and the farm.

Christy was a stalwart member of the business community in Tullamore for many years and developed the Bridge House Hotel into one of the leading establishments in the Midlands. 

Before he launched his Disc A Go Go – which gave rise to ‘disco’ music and disc jockeys all over the country within a few years – putting together equipment capable of producing the right sounds and creating the atmosphere he wanted, was Christy’s biggest problem.

“There were record hops in those days, but you could only use two small speakers, and there was no atmosphere. I had to find a way of cushioning the turntables, and used a spring from a car seat, and foam, and other padding, so that we could get the volume. We managed to separate the bass sounds and got the hi-fi effect, and we improvised in various ways to get the lighting effects,” Christy once said.

Heartfelt messages have been left on RIP.ie, from those who knew and fondly remembered Eileen, with one mourner writing,

"Our deepest sympathy to Ellen, Jason, Jillian, Lee-Anne and all the Maye family on the sad passing of Christy. It was a privilege to know him over 50 years. You simply couldn’t meet a nicer man in any walk of life.
May his gentle soul Rest In Peace"

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Another message said, "My condolences to Christy’s wife and family. He was a gentleman and a legend. May his gentle soul rest in peace."

"Very sad to hear of the passing of Christy. Many great memories of Disc-a-Gogo in St. Mary's Hall, Tullamore in the Sixties and of the Bridge House later. He was deservedly a well respected businessman and Community worker. We send our sincere condolences to his family and many friends. May Christy Rest In Eternal Peace," another person said.