Fran Rooney, the prominent businessman known for significantly increasing the valuation of Baltimore Technologies during the dot-com boom at the outset of the 21st century, has passed away. Mr. Rooney, who later took up leadership within the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), following the 2002 World Cup, died earlier this week at the age of 67, as confirmed by an RIP.ie announcement. His funeral ceremony is scheduled for this Friday.
The entrepreneur was not only proficient in business, but also held skills as a footballer, playing for Home Farm, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Bohemians, before venturing into commerce. In 2003, the Football Association of Ireland appointed him CEO, largely to execute the recommendations from the Genesis report. This report was a response to the Saipan incident a year prior, when the lead player, Roy Keane, quit the team during the lead up to the Japan World Cup following a disagreement with the coach, Mick McCarthy. Rooney’s tenure with the FAI concluded in 2004.
Rooney, initially trained as an accountant, had worked in various government departments, as well as the National Irish Bank, prior to establishing Meridian International, a company specialising in VAT processing. Together with a group of investors, Rooney acquired Baltimore Technologies in 1996 for a sum around €381,000.
This acquisition was strategically timed with the advent of the internet-related business boom, positioning Baltimore, a data security company, favourably in the market. Responding quickly to the market needs, Baltimore went public on the New York-based Nasdaq in 1999. As the internet bubble developed, the company’s market value spiralled to over $13 billion before crashing down with the burst of the bubble. During this financial turmoil, Rooney resigned as CEO in 2001.
Attendees of the funeral service can pay their respects at the Church of Our Lady Mother of the Church, Castleknock on Friday morning. The service will commence with a Requiem Mass at 11am. The subsequent cremation will take place at Newlands Cross Crematorium.