TRIBUTES PAID TO THE LATE LORD HEMPHILL

Date Published: 07-Apr-2012

The death has taken place of Lord Hemphill of Kiltulla Athenry and formerly of Tulira Castle in Ardrahan

The 83 year old who was an influential figure in horse racing, breeding and hunting died in hospital yesterday after being ill for a few weeks

His full name was Peter Patrick Ftizroy Martyn Hemphill, with Martyn being added by deed poll in 1959

It was the maiden name of his paternal grandmother who was a cousin of Edward Martyn, whose home was Tulira Castle

Listed as one of the largest landowners in Galway Lord Hemphill was educated at Downside in the UK but spent a large part of his childhood at Tulira Castle

Today local cllr Michael Fahy said Lord Hemphill had kept in touch with the area and South Galway had lost a great ambassador in word and deed

Lord Hemphill was a member of the Turf Club and a former senior steward, he served as Master of the Galway Blazers from 1957 until the mid 1980s and was conferred with the Cross of Order of Merit, Order of Malta for promoting Christian values

However he is best known in Galway for his service to the Galway races committee, which he chaired for a period of 12 years

The current chairman Tim Naughton said that Lord Hemphill had a real passion for horse racing and was an enthusiastic, progressive and committed member of the committee who would be missed

Galway racecourse manager John Maloney said Lord Hemphill never had a bad word to say about anyone