Remembering the late Bosco Quinn 

On Saturday, September 13, Richard Bosco Quinn, Waterford man and one of motorsport’s great achievers was remembered by friends and family at Mondello Park in Co. Kildare during this year’s Leinster Trophy Weekend. 

A specially commissioned perpetual trophy, manufactured by CDS Architectural Metalwork in Ballyfoyle Co. Kilkenny, was presented to the HRCA (Historic Racing Car Association) by Phylis Daly, Eamonn Murphy, Tom Nolan and Jamie Kent, and in turn awarded to the Driver of the Day by members of the Quinn family.

Bosco’s mother was given the opportunity to see the perpetual trophy honouring her son in the days before the event took place.

Richard Bosco Quinn was born on March 21, 1961. 

He was the second of five children born to John and Kathleen Quinn (nee Brazil) of Saint Ursula’s Terrace. 

His uncle Fr. Michael Brazil, who christened all five Quinn children, was a member of the order of the Salesians of Don Bosco, hence his unusual second name.

In those days it was quiet normal for ones’ parents not to own a car and his didn’t. 

It not known where Bosco developed his interest in cars but it was possibly the result of Saturday trips to the Sports Shop in George’s Street where his dad would occasionally buy him a dinky car.

In his younger days Bosco was a Sea Scout and a member of Waterford Boat Club. 

Whilst he showed an interest in other activities and music groups, once they became popular or too mainstream, he would more than likely lose interest in them.

He attended school in Manor Street CBS and Mount Sion. 

It was during his secondary school days that Richard became known as Bosco.

When he left school he worked as a telephone technician with Telecom Eireann where he spent a number of years. 

When he decided to leave, Bosco went from having a permanent and pensionable job with a state body, to living a life with many uncertainties. 

He developed an interest in motor racing at a young age and acquired his own Formula Ford car in his early twenties. 

By that stage he had been involved in various aspects of motorsport. 

He was a rally enthusiast before he developed an interest, that later became a passion, for all aspects of single-seater racing.

The “go to” man for many things at that time was Gay Byrne and Bosco wrote to him looking for “a start” in the motor racing business. 

Gay forwarded his letter to the then head of sport in RTÉ, Michael O’Carroll. 

It is interesting that Michael O’Carroll’s memoir is called 'Right Time and Place', because at that very time Eddie Jordan Racing was recruiting new staff. 

Bosco’s referee and the man who gave him the thumbs up was a fellow motor racing driver Martin McCarthy, who knew Eddie Jordan well.

When the last race was held at the old Nürburgring in Germany, Bosco set off from Dublin towing his old FF1600. 

He completed the race and trailed all the way home, satisfied that he had competed at one of the most majestic of all circuits. 

That was his way and was an indication of the dedication he brought to all his activities.

Bosco began working at Eddie Jordan Racing in 1983 as a mechanic. 

He spent his career in motor racing there, apart from a two-year sabbatical with Magnum Racing. 

He managed the Jordan F3 Programme during its final season in 1988. 

While the team concentrated on racing Bosco became the factory manager and was tasked with organising the build and fit-out of the new F1 factory opposite the entrance to Silverstone Racing Circuit.

His technical background, his ability and willingness to work long hours, his interest and love of the sport combined with this idealism, made Bosco an extremely special man.

He had worked long and hard to ensure that the changeover (that ironically took place two days after his death) went as smoothly as possible.

Bosco died on December 18, 1991 as he returned home from another long day finalising details of Jordan Grand Prix’s move into its new facility, and is interred in St Mary’s Ballygunner.

Following an ecumenical service held in St May’s Church, near Silverstone, a memorial plaque was unveiled at the Jordan Grand Prix factory dedicating the building to Bosco’s memory.

The team that was Jordan Grand Prix in Bosco’s time comprised fewer than 100 people. 

In the prevailing years it has gone through many guises. 

The scale of the operation today is unrecognisable from its origins. 

Now, in 2025, it employs approximately 960 people in a new state-of-the-art facility that is the envy of many other Grand Prix teams. 

Only three members of staff remain from the original Jordan days.

On a small framed photo of Bosco presented to the family at the memorial service, a colleague named Andy Stevenson (who Bosco had given a job to) wrote: 'Bosco, I will never forget what you did for me'. 

He went on to become Chief Mechanic before assuming his current role as Sporting Director of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.

The building that Bosco dedicated so much of his efforts to is no longer in being. 

However, Andy remained true to his word and he has ensured that Bosco’s legacy continues to live on in Silverstone.

He liaised with Bosco's mother on the design of a memorial bench to Bosco (which replaces the plaque) and this is now strategically located within the new complex.

It means so much to the Quinn family that people remember their beloved son, brother and uncle and continue to hold him in high esteem.