Tributes at death of respected New York businessman
The Lunney family celebrated 50 years in business in 2018
Tributes have been paid following the death of proud Cavan man and New York entrepreneur Hugh Lunney.
Mr Lunney was a hugely respected figure in the Irish community across the Atlantic, where he operated the iconic O'Lunney's Times Square Pub, located on 45th Street in Manhattan.
For years Mr Lunney, a native of Swanlinbar, open the doors of O'Lunney's and his other hostelries to a wide array of groups, and with an especially warm welcome to anyone with news from “home”.
Mr Lunney previously operated O'Lunney's on 44th Street, near the corner of Fifth, for nearly 27 years before moving his venerable business right into the heart of New York's theatre district.
The Lunney family celebrated 50 years in business in 2018, though closed the doors to O'Lunney's last year after suffering as a direct result of the Covid-19 economic slump.
Throughout his life, Mr Lunney was an ardent Irish Republican. He firmly supported the cause for a united Ireland and was a member of the Fenian Memorial Committee of America.
He was the first person to sign the 'One Ireland One Vote Petition' at an event held in New York held in 2020.
“All who knew him and loved him will grieve his loss. He was a generous, thoughtful, humorous and loyal man who politically longed for a united Ireland and who personally believed in the path of Divine Providence,” said a spokesperson for the Fenian Memorial Committee of America.
Mr Lunney was also a member of the New York Hibernians.
Another tribute, posted online by the New York ‘Mary from Dungloe' festival committee, remembered Mr Lunney and his family's generosity, and how he was among the first to sponsor the event when it first began.
Mr Lunney passed away last week, Thursday, February 18, two days after celebrating his 85 birthday, and following a battle with illness bravely borne.
He is survived by his wife Mary, sons Emmet, Kevin and daughter Maureen, extended family both in Ireland and America, and very many friends.
Arrangements are as follows:
Wake:
Monday 22 February
5pm to 9pm
Hodder Farenga Funeral Home
899 McLean Avenue
Yonkers, New York 10704
Telephone: (914) 237-5800
www.farengabrosfuneralhome.com
Funeral Mass:
Tuesday 23 February
10:45am
St. Barnabas Church
4343 Martha Avenue
(Corner of East 241st Street)
Bronx, New York 10470
Telephone: (718) 324-1478
Mass can also be viewed on the parish's Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/stbarnabascatholicchurch
Interment:
St. Raymond’s Cemetery
2600 Lafayette Avenue
Bronx, New York 10465
Telephone: (718) 792-1133
www.straymondparish.org/our-cemetery-1
Notes of condolence can be left HERE.