Eamonn O'Connor (above, right) with Peter Aiken

The funeral will take place in Dublin, and in Eamonn's beloved Clare, tomorrow (see below for full details). "He was one of a kind," the President of Ticketmaster International Mark Yovich said, "and we will miss him terribly."

The full statement from Ticketmaster reads:

Eamonn O’Connor, the Managing Director of Ticketmaster Ireland, who has died after a short illness was a major figure in the Irish entertainment industry.

As the head of Ireland’s largest ticketing agency, he was involved in all of the major music, entertainment, sporting and other live events around the country and in Northern Ireland, for over 25 years.

Eamonn (51), a native of the Navan Road in Dublin, began his career as a public servant in the Companies Office but always had an interest in the world of entertainment and worked at various music events in his spare time.

In 1986, he went into the business of ticket-selling full-time as General Manager of the new Ticket Shop in the HMV Stores, on Grafton Street and Henry Street, in Dublin.

Eamonn was the driving force as the business grew and in 1992 along with his business partner, Tommy Higgins, started Ireland’s first computerised ticketing operation.

In 1997, they entered a joint venture arrangement with Ticketmaster, the leading American ticketing agency and in 2004 Eamonn was made Managing Director of Ticketmaster Ireland. Under his guidance, dedication and enthusiasm, Ticketmaster Ireland grew to be one of the most successful operations in the Ticketmaster group.

He is survived by his wife Breda, son David, mother Maureen, brothers Brian and Shay and sisters Aileen and Mary.

Mark Yovich, President, Ticketmaster International, said: “Eamonn has been an irreplaceable part of the Ticketmaster family for more than thirty years and was an inspiring, entertaining, talented and truly unique personality. Anyone who knew Eamonn, as a colleague or a friend, will have been unforgettably touched by the Eamonn O’Connor magic. He was one of a kind and we will miss him terribly.

“Our thoughts are with his family and our colleagues in Ireland during this time.”

Funeral arrangements: Removal to the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Navan Road, Dublin, on Thursday morning arriving for Requiem Mass at 10.00 o’c followed by removal to his residence in Kilbaha, Co. Clare, where he will repose from 7.00 pm. Removal on (Friday) morning to the Church of the Little Ark, Moneen, Kilbaha, arriving for Requiem Mass at 12.00 o’c followed by burial in Kiltrellig Cemetery. Family flowers only, please. Donations if desired to Blue September [link]www.blueseptember.ie[/link]