Inspirational Angela remembered as ‘a woman ahead of her time’

ANGELA Lyne, a name synonymous with the success of some of Ennis’ most well known businesses, has been remembered as “inspirational and a woman ahead of her time” as she was laid to rest this week.

Mrs Lyne (nee Canny) played a key role in The Queens Hotel, Cruises Bar, Restaurant and nightclub and the Auburn Lodge on the Gort Road alongside her husband Robert, known to most as Bob.

Mourners gathered at Ennis Cathedral to say their final goodbyes to the mother of five on Tuesday.

Paying tribute her son Riobard remarked it was appropriate the funeral was taking pace on the longest day of the year.

“Mam, for decades, would be up before dawn and finish late in the night. It would seem for her that there was not enough hours in the day.”

He recalled his mother’s early years in Tullabrack near Kilrush, and her move to Listowel to work as a telephone operator.

She was then transferred to Ennis, where she met Bob and they began their lives together.

He spoke of his parents’ “lasting, loving relationship” over 60 years, saying in the last few months his father would bring an ice cream cone to her at Cahercalla every day at 3pm.

“Seeing them eating their cones each day together was a comforting and entirely lovely sight for us all and it gave us strength.”

His mother’s style was “legendary”, with the Lynes loving to go out to dinner socials like the Hunt Ball.

“She was the belle of the ball on each occasion,” remembered Riobard.

He told those gathered that “with no formal business education, but with hard work and intelligence, she went on to build a great business.”

Mrs Lyne was a leader in business, motivated to make sure customers had the best experience.

“To her there was no glass ceiling, just hard work and dedication. She was inspirational and a woman ahead of her time.”

He remembered when The Queens got its first computers installed in the ‘80s and she taught herself code so she could fix any problems herself.

She was a champion of diversity, employing people from all over the world and sponsoring many to move to Ireland permanently and make Ennis their home. Mrs Lyne gave many people their first job, with the family receiving messages of condolences from CEOs of global companies who started off working at The Queens.

Riobard paid tribute to the “many wonderful people” who worked alongside his mother, as well as customers and suppliers.

While known for her business acumen, it was in the family home on the Limerick Road she “made the greatest and lasting contribution in her life”.

“It was here in this loving caring house that Mam and Dad worked as a partnership to create a fabulous home.

“They together supported and backed us as children and as adults. For the last 40 years Limerick Road was our rock and foundation where we were nurtured and educated.”

She gave her children, “resilience and determination and an extremely strong sense of family”.

“Her love was endless and selfless, and her ever lasting legacy is rooted in her grandchildren and their future and the generations ahead.”

He concluded by thanking the staff at Cahercalla and her carers.

“She was a precious mother, who was much loved and will be sadly missed by all her family and everyone who knew her. She was one of a kind.”

Celebrating the funeral mass Fr Tom Ryan, Ennis parish priest described Mrs Lyne as a “driving force that made dreams become reality”, helping to bring investment, employment and business to the town of Ennis.

“She was a woman ahead of her time. She was inspirational and she was hard working.”

Mrs Lyne is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) and children Riobard, Grainne, Sean, Tadhg and Donie, grandchildren, other family and friends.

Among the many tributes to Mrs Lyne following her passing, Ennis Chamber described her as a focused and driven businesswoman, whose passion ensured that the businesses she managed were highly successful.  

Mrs Lyne was described as a focused and driven businesswoman, whose passion ensured that the businesses she managed were highly successful.

Apart from her management role in the family businesses, Angela made time to play an active part in a group of Ennis business people that drove a crucial cultural project in the own.

Along with Angela Cahir, Leo Mannion and Dominic Considine, she sought funding and support to drive what was considered an ambitious project to build a large capacity theatre in Ennis. Glór is the realisation of that ambition.

Ennis Chamber CEO Margaret O’Brien said, “Since entering the hotel business in Ennis in the mid ‘70s, the contribution made by the Lyne family to the local economy has been immense, as both employers and investors.

“Although Angela Lyne’s time at the helm of the Queens Hotel and Auburn Lodge was before my time at Ennis Chamber, I was well aware of Angela’s legendary status as a trail-blazer for women in business, in our town.  

“As a Chamber we are grateful to Angela for the support she gave to our organisation over the years and for the continued support we receive today from the Lyne family.

“Our sympathies go to Angela’s husband Bob, daughter Grainne and sons Riobard, Sean, Tadhg and Donie.”