Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘He was a big character and we achieved amazing things’
BARNEY EASTWOOD: 1932-2020 Mcguigan tribute to boxing manager as he dies aged 87
He really knew his boxing, my sympathies to his family at this time
BARRY MCGUIGAN YESTERDAY
TRIBUTES have poured in for former boxing promoter, bookmaker and businessman Barney Eastwood, who passed away yesterday.
The 87-year-old died at the Ulster Hospital on the outskirts of Belfast following a short illness.
Born in 1932, the Cookstown man, who lived in Holywood, Co Down, founded the Eastwoods chain of betting shops, which he sold to Ladbrokes for more than £100million in 2008.
Known to friends and family as “BJ”, he also had a string of worldclass boxers to his name having worked with former featherweight champion Barry Mcguigan.
Yet, their relationship ended with legal action and animosity that later saw Barney awarded £450,000 in damages.
At the height of his promoting career, he was awarded the World Boxing Manager Of The Year by the World Boxing Association.
His Belfast gym was famous around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. As well as the Clones Cyclone, he managed four other champions – Paul Hodkinson, Crisanto Espana, Dave “Boy” Mcauley and Victor Cordoba.
He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years Frances and sons Adrian, Brian, Peter, Stephen and Fergal and daughter Fiona.
While working at his brother’s shoe shop in Cookstown, he met his wife, where she was employed as a secretary.
The pair married in the 1950s, aged 19, before they moved to Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
Barney also leaves behind 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and his sister Margaret.
One of nine children, he is predeceased by son Fintan, brothers Joseph, Thomas, John and William, and sisters Johanna, Gertrude and Elizabeth.
Various members of the political and sporting worlds took to social media yesterday to pay their respects.
Former client Mcguigan told how the two “shared some amazing times”.
He said: “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Barney Eastwood.
“He was a big character who really knew his boxing. We achieved great things together and shared some amazing times. My deepest sympathies to his wife Frances and his family at this difficult time.”
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill said: “Saddened to hear of the death of Barney Eastwood. A great Tyrone Gael, businessman, and giant of the boxing world.”
Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt recalled working with Barney when he was a sports reporter at BBC NI. He tweeted: “What a great man.”
The Eastwood home will remain private ahead of the funeral later this week at St Colmcille’s Parish Church, Holywood.