Earl of Dunraven passes away after short illness

THE death has occurred of the seventh Earl of Dunraven, Thady Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, who passed away last Friday after a short illness.

Huge crowds are expected to attend the funeral on Wednesday of the 71-year-old, who died at his home in Kilgobbin House in Adare on Friday. The wheelchair bound Earl moved to this address after selling the family home of Adare Manor, which was later turned into a five star hotel and golf resort.

He is survived by his wife Lady Geraldine and his daughter Ana. Chief executive of the Irish Wheelchair Association, Kathleen McLoughlin, said his presidency of the association over two decades was used to step up pressure to include people with disabilities in every aspect of life.

Born in 1939, Thady Quin was the son of Richard Southwell Windham Robert Wyndham-Quin, sixth Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, and Nancy Yuille. Educated at Ludgrove School, Berkshire, England, and Le Rosey School, Rolle, Switzerland, he succeeded to the title in 1965.

He married Geraldine McAleer in 1969 and was confined to a wheelchair as a result of suffering from polio when he was a schoolboy.

Valentine Richard Quin was created a baronet in 1781, becoming the first Earl of Dunraven and the title Mount-Earl was added in 1816. The family had a succession of MPs and the fourth earl was a senator in the Irish Free State. The family were among the largest landowners in County Limerick.

The earl is also survived by his sisters Melissa and Caroline. His funeral will take place this Wednesday at 12 noon at St Nicholas Church, Adare.