Death of Chairman of Connacht Tribune Newspaper Group

One of the city’s most prominent businessmen, Tim Naughton, passed away yesterday morning following a short illness. Mr Naughton (73) of Salthill was chairman of the board of The Connacht Tribune newspaper group; a director and chairman of Galway Bay FM; and former chairman of the Galway Race Committee, which oversaw the development of the racecourse at Ballybrit.
He knew since he was a boy that he was going to be going into the family business, a hardware and furniture store on Shop Street and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1967, having already graduated with a B Comm degree from UCG.
He ran Naughtons for 30 years until it closed in 1998 to be replaced by Boots Pharmacy but continued to run the family’s property and investments interests.
He loved the world of horseracing, and was a successful owner, but equally loved newspapers. He was particularly proud of his role in The Connacht Tribune Group and took a keen interest in local news, politics and sports.
In recent years he described himself as a “semi-retired businessman”, and when referring to his role in the family store, called himself “a shopkeeper”. He was the third generation to run the store, a popular shop with people, especially customers from rural Galway.
Mr Naughton believed in hard work and encouraged all of his own eight children to work in some capacity in the shop when they were students themselves.
He was also a steward and a member of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee and the Turf Club, which meant he attended race meetings all over the country, until he became ill earlier this year. He loved to read history and keep up with current affairs and he was always keen to exchange opinions on any number of subjects.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret, his children Mary, Nora, Peter, John, Timothy, Gerald, Michael and David; sisters Mary Drury-Byrne, Una Dooley and Geraldine Rowan; as well as eight grandchildren. Mr Naughton’s remains will be reposing at his home on Threadneedle Road from 5pm to 7.30pm this evening (Friday).
House private tomorrow morning for the removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Westside for Requiem Mass at 10.30am, followed by burial in the New Cemetery, Bohermore. Family flowers only, donations in lieu to the Galway Hospice.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.