Gentleman Jackson - Mount Temple chauffeur recalls

A Mount Temple-based chauffeur who ferried Michael Jackson around Ireland during the latter part of 2006 has described him this week as a 'gentleman' and a 'very good father'. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Ray O"Hara said Michael Jackson loved Ireland and was very knowledgable about current affairs, something he learned between August and December 2006, when he drove the star and his three children around the country. During the period Jackson spent time recording in Grouse Lodge near Rosemount with well known producer Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. The driver said he has nothing but fond memories of the King of Pop and finds it hard to believe he will not meet him again in the future. 'I"ll mainly remember him as a nice man, a gentleman who looked after his kids. Everything he did was for his kids,' the taxi driver recalled. 'He loved Ireland. I have no doubt he would have settled here. He could come and go and had a large amount of privacy here. He was very soft spoken and knowledgable about current affairs. I used to give him the paper every morning,' Mr O"Hara remembers of their chats on the car journeys. The Mount Temple-based chauffeur said he was in total shock when he first discovered he would be driving Jacko around the country, having to 'pinch himself' on occasion, even now, as he looks back on the time spent with the superstar. 'He"s a legend. After him there is only Elvis. Initially, I was in total shock but then you meet him and you realise he"s human like the rest of us.' He continued: 'His children were very mannerly and very polite. After every journey they would say thanks to me and Michael would say to me thanks Ray for getting us home safely'. However, his fondest memories of Jackson were the moments when he was just a normal father. 'I drove to Grouse Lodge one day and saw Michael dressed up in a raincoat and wellies. He was leading his kids who were lined up behind him on horseback. He looked like a happy parent. He could be himself, be normal,' he stated. The Dubliner also recalled another humorous incident that makes him smile even now, three years later. 'We were in Dublin one time, he was up on business and he wanted to get the children a treat of Kentucky chicken. So we went to the nearest drive through in Blanchardstown and parked up in the car park and had KFC. I laugh about that now. I had dinner with Michael Jackson,' he chuckled. When news of Michael Jackson"s death first emerged at the weekend, Ray O"Hara said he was shocked and saddened especially as he was convinced he would meet him again soon. The global star was actually due to officially open Paddy Dunning of Grouse Lodge fame latest venture Wax Museum Plus in Dublin later this Summer. 'It"s hard to believe he is gone because he was a fit and healthy man. My heart goes out to the kids. In simplistic terms, there are three kids now without a dad and three kids" hearts are breaking.' Although he has met many celebrities through his work down through the years, Ray doubts he will meet anyone like Michael Jackson again. 'It doesn"t get any bigger than that. There are stars but I don"t think there will be stars of his calibre around again. To me, I have nothing but respect for him. He was a pure gentleman,' O"Hara concluded.