Obituary - Denis Tucker

“Gentleman” and “Consummate Professional” were words from former colleagues to summarise their memories of Denis Tucker, who passed away on 5th July.

A long-serving manager within the hospitality industry, Denis joined CERT in 1983 as Regional Training Advisor for South East Region, prior to becoming Manager of Specialist Services and Manager of Regional Training Services in 1989. He also undertook training consultancy assignments in Turkey, Ukraine and the Isle of Man.

He transferred from CERT to Fáilte Ireland when the Tourism Authority was established in 2003 and held several key management positions in the areas of training, product development and regional tourism development.

Prior to joining CERT, Denis was general manager of Cahernane Hotel, Killarney, and held hotel management posts in Ireland and the UK, as well as a period with P&O Line. He was also a lecturer in Food and Beverage at Rockwell Hotel School.

Denis served on the IHF Council, Killarney Tourism Council and was a Fellow of the Irish Hospitality Institute. He was an Executive Member of the National Standards Authority and a member of the National Hygiene Training Board for the hospitality industry.

He was also an active member of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers and adjudicated at many national and international competitions.

Denis, who hailed from Ballydaly, Co. Cork, passed away peacefully on 5th July 2024, surrounded by his loving family and in the care of Ashbury Nursing Home, Kill of the Grange. He was predeceased by his parents Denis and Nora, and brothers Tommy, Eddie, Donal, and his sister Eileen.

Beloved husband and best friend of Estelle, dearly loved father of Carol, Linda, Edel and Kieran, and loving grandfather of Rosie, Charlie and Elliot, he is sadly missed and cherished by his family, his brother Fr. Seán, sister Noreen, sister-in-law Eileen, son-in-law Kerry, and extended family and his many friends and colleagues  in the Irish hospitality industry.