MOURNERS gathered in Co Antrim today to pay their respects to businessman John Mulholland.
Hundreds of people packed into St Oliver Plunkett's Church in Toomebridge for the funeral of the entrepreneur (55) who created a multi-million pound car dealership firm.
A giant of the car industry, he passed away at home on August 17 following a diagnosis of kidney cancer 14 months ago.
The father-of-four, who was originally from the Antrim Road in north Belfast, was described as "our hero" by his family following his death.
The founder of John Mulholland Motors, he moved to Randalstown during the Troubles and set up the company with his wife, Alicia, selling cars from the side of their house.
A racing fanatic, he started rally driving at the age of 19 - his 21-year-old son Johnnie is also a rally driver. Mr Mulholland was buried in his favourite racing overalls.
Following his cancer diagnosis Mr Mulholland spoke openly about his illness and fronted a major fundraising campaign in a bid to donate £40,000 to the Friends of the Cancer Centre charity by the end of the year.
Two rally cars bearing the logo of the Friends of the Cancer Centre were brought to the church today.
Speaking to The Irish News earlier this week, Mr Mulholland's daughter, Shona (28), said she remembered her father as "charismatic, energetic and driven man" who was also "very funny and gave her the best childhood you could imagine".
"Anything dad approached in life, he never expected to be defeated and genuinely we never expected this, we always thought he would get better," she said.
"For us, he was one in a trillion dad. He was our hero. He lived his life to the max and fitted more in his 55 years than most people could fit in 555."
Mr Mulholland is survived by wife Alicia, daughters Alicia, Shona and Anna, and son Johnnie.
