At his memorial mass in Dublin, Richard Quirke, the 77-year-old tycoon who founded Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium, was commemorated as a humorous, kind-hearted and liberal individual. The commemoration ceremony was held on a Saturday morning at the Foxrock-based Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The former member of the Irish police force passed away peacefully at his residence in Cabinteely, Dublin 18, the prior week.
Quirke, a native of Co Tipperary, inaugurated Dr Quirkey’s on O’Connell Street in Dublin in 1976. The venture boasts a business portfolio of arcade and casino establishments in Dublin, run by Dublin Pool and Juke Box Limited which also operates numerous slot machine outlets throughout the city. The firm reported a net profit of €8.6 million in 2023.
During the memorial service, Andrew, Quirke’s son, eulogised about his father’s unwavering work ethic that drove his accomplishments. “My father was enthrallingly eccentric … Rising from humble beginnings, his relentless dedication and unmatched generosity made him truly unique,” Andrew stated.
The humour and enthusiasm of his father, who enjoyed entertaining others, were highlighted in his tribute. Andrew continued, stating that his father, akin to the character Denis the Menace of Thurles, was a notorious prankster. “His love for western films was well known. From a small town, he migrated to the bustling city and took up the profession of a police officer,” Andrew mentioned.
When his father first met his mother, Ann, it was an immediate infatuation, Andrew disclosed, adding: “Their love story extended over five and a half decades.” “Father was an individual who knew the value of a pound, yet, his generosity was beyond measure. Astonishingly, most of the charitable acts he performed for relatives, companions, and unfamiliar persons went unnoticed,” Andrew confessed.
The internment occurred at Kilternan Cemetery Park, post the mass. He is survived by his wife, Ann, his sons, Wesley and Andrew, grandchildren, sisters, and a wide circle of family and friends.
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