Confrère John, who was our longest serving member, died on 19th May 2022.
Having worked in the travel industry, John had visited the Holy Land on numerous occasions. His religious devotion, frequent pilgrimages to Jerusalem and interest in heraldry made him aware of the Equestrian Order. He had interest in and finished his professional career in the Jewellery business.
John was invested a Knight of the Order in September 1973 in Jerusalem by the then Patriarch, His Beatitude Giacomo Giuseppe Beltritti. On the inception of the Lieutenancy of Ireland in 1986, John took on the responsibility of Chancellor, under the leadership of His Excellency Tom Sheahan, founding Lieutenant.
John maintained an active role in the development of our Lieutenancy and as a result of his commitment was promoted successively, reaching the rank of Knight Grand Cross and received the rarely awarded Golden Palm of Jerusalem in 2011.
John’s funeral took place on Friday June 10th 2022. Requiem Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Ennis Road, Limerick with burial afterwards in Mount St. Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick. The Lieutenant and Brian Mc Carthy represented the Lieutenancy at the funeral.