John Leydon (17 January 1895 – 2 August 1979) was an Irish civil servant, who served in a number of significant roles in ministerial departments and was involved in the setting up and development of a number of semi-state organisations such as

Irish Shipping Irish Shipping Limited was an Irish state-owned deep sea shipping company, formed during World War II for the purpose of supplying the country's import needs. Its ships were usually named after trees. Its contribution to Irish neutrality was re ...

(first chairman),

Aer Rianta DAA (styled "daa"), previously Dublin Airport Authority, is a commercial semi-state airport company in Ireland. The company owns and operates Dublin Airport and Cork Airport. Its other subsidiaries include the travel retail business Aer Rianta ...

(served as director and chairman),

Aer Lingus Aer Lingus ( ; an anglicisation of the Irish , meaning "air fleet" compare Welsh 'llynges awyr') is the flag carrier of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary ...

(served as chairman), and the Institute of Public Administration (which he served as its first president). Leydon was educated at St. Mel's College, Longford, before going to Maynooth College as a seminarian, he did not pursue the priesthood, and instead joined the British civil service in 1915. A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Legion of Mary a colleague in the civil service of its founder

Frank Duff Francis Michael Duff, L.O.M. (7 June 1889 – 7 November 1980), known as Frank Duff, is known especially for bringing attention to the role of the laity during the Second Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church as well as for founding ...

, and a close friend, Duff served as his best man.

Awards and honours

He was awarded by the Vatican the title Knight Commander with star of the

Order of St. Gregory the Great The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great ( la, Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; it, Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope. The order is one of ...

in 1948. Leydon was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Dublin in 1961.

Death

Leydon died on 2 August 1979, aged 84. He is buried in Deans Grange Cemetery Dublin.

References

1895 births 1979 deaths Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth Irish civil servants Burials at Deans Grange Cemetery Knights Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great People educated at St Mel's College {{Gov-bio-stub