Obituaries: Noel Duff and Austin Crowe

Noel Duff and Austin Crowe, two pioneering hoteliers, have passed away in recent days.

Noel Duff, who was in his 95th year, was for many years the manager of the family-owned Buswells Hotel, located across the road from Leinster House. A consummate host, he welcomed Taoisigh, Ministers, TDs and their constituents with grace and courtesy to a hotel which offered comfortable accommodation and high standards of classical service.

Noel was one of the founding members of the IHI and served as a director on the first Board. He was appointed the third President of the IHI and served from 1969 to 1971.  

He is pre-deceased by his late wife Brighid, with whom he shared 60 years of married life, and is survived by sons and daughters Thérèse, Niamh, Peter, Anne, Bláithín, Colm and Nicolette. 

Austin Crowe, from Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, was a well-known and popular publican who bought Dundrum House and converted it into a country house hotel with its own golf course.

He was accorded a Civic Reception by the former South Tipperary County Council in 2005 for his contribution to the tourism and business life of Dundrum and County Tipperary.

Austin is survived by his wife Mary, sons William and Seamus, daughters Cora, Deirdre, Finula and Andrea, his nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.