It was with great sadness that Irish Sailing learned of the passing of Clayton Love Jr this week.
A former Admiral of The Royal Cork Yacht Club and a long-term member of the Committee of Management for the RNLI, Mr Love Jr was a founding member of Irish Sailing, then known as the Irish Yachting Association. He held the office of President for ten years between 1962 and 1972 and helped establish the modern sport of sailing in Ireland as we now know it.
Mr Love Jr was a well-known business leader and was President of Cork Chamber in 1979 and 1980. He worked with tireless enthusiasm for sailing in a voluntary capacity, leading the amalgamation of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and the Royal Munster Yacht Club in 1967 to create today’s international sailing hub at Crosshaven in Cork Harbour.
A competitive sailor in both inshore and offshore circuits, he contributed much to the Irish Dinghy Racing Association (IDRA), the forerunner to the Irish Yachting Association and in later years was part of the successful 1977 'Big Apple' Admiral's Cup campaign on the Solent.
His great qualities included inspiring enthusiasm, energy, wisdom and consideration, and they will be sorely missed.
In a statement on X Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened” by the news. Mr Love “made an enormous contribution to Cork through his pioneering work in commerce and business”, he said.
John Twomey, President of Irish Sailing said, “Clayton was a remarkable man and hugely admired by those around him. The contribution he made to the Irish sailing world over the decades is innumerable and he leaves a legacy that is nothing short of astonishing. He lived a great life and was a fantastic family man. He will be hugely missed by his many colleagues in the sailing world. Our deepest condolences to his entire family, our thoughts are with them at this time."
Mr Love Jr is predeceased by his first wife, Betty who he was married to for over 50 years. He is survived by his widow, Barbara, his children, Neil, Sarah and Clayton and his several grandchildren.
This article was first published on afloat.ie and was since updated by Irish Sailing.