Clontarf Energy plc co-founder and chairman David Horgan, who also cofounded and was a director of a small group of metal and mineral exploration companies, has died aged 66.
Mr Horgan cofounded and was chairman of Petrel Resources plc, cofounded and was director of Botswana Diamonds plc and founder chairman of Greenore Gold plc.
Born in Belfast, he was educated at a primary school in Dublin followed by high school in British Colombia.
Mr Horgan went on to gain a first class honours degree in Law at Cambridge University in England and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
He began his career with the Boston Consulting Group before returning to Ireland in 1991 to pursue his interest in natural resources.
After a short period with Goffs, Mr Horgan joined Kenmare Resources plc where he served as commercial director until 1992.
He then joined John Teeling and Jim Finn and their group of natural resource companies based in Clontarf, Dublin.
In a joint statement Messrs Teeling and Finn said that Mr Horgan’s death was a deep personal loss to each of them.
“In over three decades together we have created, financed, managed and listed a series of early-stage exploration ventures in a variety of natural resources.
“He revelled in high stakes, high risk resources exploration.
“He was fearless travelling in dangerous territories, traipsing across swamps or exploring long abandoned mines.
“He spoke eight languages. After ten days or so in a new country could converse with locals in their own language and actively participate in local culture and traditions.
“Early-stage exploration is very high risk. Our small group had some successes operating gold mines in Zimbabwe, selling off oil licences in Peru and discovering a diamond mine in Botswana.
“The last decade has been hard on explorers. Little or no investor interest in our activities.
“David had a simple message – no exploration, no mines, no transition to green energy.
“His passing, just as the message seems to be getting traction, is ironic.
“He is a huge loss for his friends, family, colleagues, shareholders and the wider Irish Resource sector.
“Ar dheis de go raibh a ainm.”