Early life Redmond Gallagher was born on 27 February 1914 at Dunwiley House,
Stranorlar,
County Donegal. His father was
Henry Thomas Gallagher, crown solicitor for County Donegal and founder of
Urney Chocolates. He was educated at
Belvedere College, Dublin, where he was
rugby captain. He wanted to become an engineer, but at his father's behest joined the family business of Urney instead, although he did also work as a steward at the
Irish Grand Prix. In 1934 at the
Leipzig industrial fair Gallagher was introduced to
Adolf Hitler as he was doing the rounds. He later remarked of Hitler that he was "almost comical".
Racing career and Urney In the years following the
Second World War, Gallagher began racing his own self-built car "the
Leprechaun", which was modelled on the Cooper. He entered into the
1951 Formula One season and drove the Leprechaun II for the
British Grand Prix at
Silverstone. The 1000cc Leprechaun III was most successful and won a number of speed events. Gallagher then raced in a two-seater
Gordini T15S for several races, including the
1953 RAC Tourist Trophy,
1954 RAC Tourist Trophy and 1954 Wakefield Trophy at
The Curragh, winning the latter. Gallagher continued racing from time to time until 1956, when he decided to return to the family business. Gallagher became chairman of Urney in 1958, forcibly taking control from
his father. In 1963 to his father's dismay, he sold the family share in the company to W.R. Grace. Gallagher continued on as chairman for three more years before retiring in 1966. That same year, Thomas Headon, who had been a key figure in the company, died, thus depriving the company of its leadership. Urney declined in the 1970s as its new foreign owners lacked interest in the company. In 1981, the factory finally closed down.
Later life Gallagher owned extensive lands in
County Kildare and
County Wexford, and was active in cattle farming. He also owned several race horses, notably 'Fiery Diplomat' who won many races in England, France and Ireland. Despite retiring from the family business, Gallagher retained his wider economic interests and was a director of
Coras Trachtála. Gallagher emigrated to
Spain in 1980 with his mistress Máirín McGrath, who was thirty-seven years his junior, and whom he subsequently married. He died at his villa in
Sagra in 2006. == References ==