The last of a breed: Party loving Guinness heir dies

Eccentric Guinness heir Garech Browne, who sported a ponytail and set up the chieftans folk band, has died aged 78. Seldom seen without a glass of champagne in his hand, Garech (right), also know as Garech de Brún, was the last of a breed of hardpartying Anglo-irish aristocrats. He counted Sir Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull and Bono among his close friends. in 1966 his younger brother tara was killed at the age of 21 in a car smash in redcliffe Gardens, chelsea, which inspired the Beatles to write A Day in the Life.

Only last year Browne put his magical 5,000-acre estate in ireland’s county Wicklow up for sale for £24millon, hoping the state would buy it. it is still on the market.

the estate has been a backdrop for films Braveheart and King Arthur and is home to his castlelike Luggala retreat where the rich and famous came to party.

At the 21st birthday of Garech’s half-brother Gay Kindersley, a male guest drove a car into the marquee because he felt someone

was paying too much attention to his wife. Browne, who was the son of dominick, the 4th Lord oranmore and Browne, and oonagh Guinness, was also a friend and patron of Francis Bacon and was so passionate about traditional Irish music, he founded Claddagh Records in 1959. Browne became custodian of the estate after the death of his mother in 1970. oonagh Guinness was also famed for her hospitality at the estate, and her guests there included Lucian Freud. She had been given the property by her father in 1937 as a wedding gift.

at home in Ireland, Garech entertained widely and was, most lunchtimes, to be found at the Roundwood Inn, near his home. He travelled widely and was married to Princess Harshad Purna devi, daughter of H.H. Sri Mahendra Sinhji, Maharaja of Morvi in India.

Browne had no children and told friends his heir would be Tara’s eldest son, dorian.