This memorial website was created in memory of our father, John Collins. We will remember him forever. John was cremated on Monday 7th December 2020.
Thank you all for your kind words and for sharing these priceless memories and tributes with us on this site. It is a great comfort. If you knew John, this site may make you smile.
We would very much like an opportunity to join with all his friends and colleagues to celebrate his life and therefore we hope to arrange a memorial event, to take place in the summer of 2021, when we can come together to raise a toast in his memory. We will send further details in due course when the arrangements have been made.
John grew up in Killiney, Co. Dublin. He attended Presentation College, Glasthule, Cistercian College, Roscrea and Redemptorist College, Limerick. Whilst studying law at the
King's Inns, Dublin, he was elected Auditor of the Law Students Debating Society.
His Inaugural coincided with the 50th. Anniversary of the Easter Rising and was attended by a very distinguished audience. He delivered his Inaugural address "Retrospect 66" in front of the then President,
Éamon de Valera, who was involved in that Rising. Also present was the British Ambassador, Sir Geoffrey Tory, Cardinal Conway, The Irish Chief Justice,(who later became President) Cearbhaill O Dalaigh, Seán Lemass, the Taoiseach and an array of Judges, Politicians and Lawyers.
[1][2][3]Before settling down to practising law he founded Squash Ireland. This was the first commercial Squash venture in Ireland. Before he sold it to a consortium headed by Paddy McGrath, he had built 5 Courts in Rathgar, 6 in Dalkey and 8 in Clontarf. When he sold in 1975,
[4] he brought his wife and children to live in
Pinner, Middlesex. This coincided with the deteriorating security situation in Ireland.
He was married twice, to his first wife for 28 years and then to his second wife for 4 years. He has 5 children, Patrick (PJ), Aisling, Paul, Glenn and Maria.
