Tributes to former UL president Prof Roger Downer who made Nenagh his home

Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill was among those who paid tribute to Prof Roger Downer, who died at the weekend.

Deputy Cahill passed on his “sincere sympathy to the Downer family”.

Prof Downer, originally from Belfast, was the second president of the University of Limerick, and lived in Nenagh where he was a regular on the golf course at Nenagh Golf Club.

UL Chancellor Mary Harney said: “One of Prof Downer’s many legacies is UL’s School of Medicine.  He worked throughout his presidency to establish a new medical school for Ireland at UL against much opposition it must be said.

"Prof Downer felt strongly that post graduate medical education should be introduced in Ireland as a new pathway to medical education beyond the CAO.

"He and his colleagues embarked on an ambitious task of establishing post graduate medical education at UL, competing with existing Irish medical schools leading to the establishment of UL Medical School in 2007, the first medical school since the formation of the Irish State.”

Born in 1942, Prof Downer was educated at the Methodist College Belfast before going on to Queen’s University Belfast to study science, and University of Western Ontario, where he studied for a PhD and was awarded a FEJ Fry Gold medal of Canadian Society of Zoologists.

From 1998 to 2006, Prof Downer held the positions of president and vice-chancellor at UL and oversaw the growth of student numbers, research productivity and a physical expansion of the campus footprint.

He held a number of non-executive director roles on Mid-West bodies including including chair of the Irish Peace Institute, Munster Rugby Board, JP McManus All-Ireland Scholarships, the Irish Rugby Players Association Player Services Council, Hunt Museum, and Foynes Flying Boat Museum.

Prof Downer passed away last Sunday.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; son Kevin and daughters Katie and Tara.

His remains will repose at Keller's Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45XO94) from 5pm-7pm this Monday and his funeral will take place at St Flannan's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Killaloe (V94FD36), at 11am, Tuesday, followed by burial in Castletown Cemetery, Portroe (E45WP98)..