Martin Birrane
Born: August 16th, 1935
Died: June 9th, 2018
Martin Birrane, who died suddenly in Dublin on Saturday, June 9th at the age of 82, was celebrated in Irish and international motorsport. Cars may have been his passion but he also built the London-based developer Peer Group with a property portfolio worth £190 million (€216 million). He also owned and operated Mondello Park outside Naas, the only purpose-built race circuit in Ireland, which is 50 years in operation this year.
His route to success, like his favourite sport – motor racing – was colourful and varied. Born just outside Ballina in 1935, where his father ran a master tailoring business, he finished St Muredach’s College in Ballina in 1952 and, like many others in his class, took the boat to England.
However, he did not follow the conventional route but took off travelling for three years including doing a stint studying hotel management in Geneva. While in Geneva, Birrane took French lessons every day until he was fluent in the language and, short of funds, he sang for his supper late at night in pubs and restaurants. Birrane was also a butler to the Canadian ambassador in Turkey during his travels.
Back in England he did “anything and everything”. He had bit parts in films, appeared on stage and in variety shows and commercials. Asked recently what he would be doing if he hadn’t become a successful property entrepreneur, he said, “I’d probably be back in show business.”
Real estate
In 1958, aged 22, he married Susan and, in search of new opportunities, the young couple emigrated to Canada, where Birrane discovered he had a talent for selling real estate, eventually starting his own estate agency business in the UK in 1961 with his late brother John.
He then moved into development and, in 1983, he acquired a major shareholding in Peer Properties Limited, later renamed Peer Group plc. He also became chairman and managing director.
Birrane loved the view from the fourth floor of his London headquarters, overlooking the Hop Exchange. Sitting south of the Thames close to the Shard and Southwark Cathedral, his boardroom offered spectacular views across the London skyline, including St Paul’s.
Motor racing
Birrane successfully competed in all types of motor racing for 42 seasons, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 10 occasions, achieving a podium finish in 1980 and then winning the GT class in 1985 in a BMW M1. Setting the Irish land speed record in 1990 at 176mph was another memorable achievement on an unopened stretch of the M50. Birrane bought Lola, one of the greatest names in race car manufacturing, and his final race was in July 2007 in his beloved Lola T70MK3B clocking up another race win.
In 1986 he purchased Mondello Motor Racing Circuit in Co Kildare after a particularly difficult few years for the circuit. He invested heavily in the venue and today it is the only permanent motor racing circuit in the Republic of Ireland with an FIA licence. It has hosted FIA Sportscars, BTCC and British Superbikes.
He was busy with arrangements for events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mondello, the 60th anniversary of Lola cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, and also his diamond wedding anniversary, when he died.
He is survived by his wife, Susan, and their children, Lis, James, Bridget and Amanda.