J. P. McManus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. P. McManus
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J.P. McManus in 2010
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| Born | 10 March 1951 Limerick, Ireland
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Noreen McManus |
| Children | 3 |
John Patrick McManus (born 10 March 1951) is a well-known Irish businessman and owner of many racehorses. He used to be a big owner of shares in the famous football club Manchester United. He sold his shares in 2005.
Contents
Early Life and First Jobs
J.P. McManus was born in Limerick, Ireland, on March 10, 1951. He was the oldest of five brothers. He went to the Christian Brothers School on Sexton Street. He grew up in Ballygar and later Ballysheedy with his family. He started working at his father's company, which rented out equipment. When he was 21, he got a special licence to become a bookmaker. He then started taking bets at the Limerick Greyhound track.
His Businesses and Investments
J.P. McManus is a very successful businessman. In 1994, he started a company called Leicosa SA in Geneva, Switzerland. This company mainly trades in different world currencies. He also has a group of companies called Novellus. These companies invest in properties across the UK and Ireland.
McManus also leads Liberties Strategic Services. This company is based in Geneva and Bermuda. It has invested in banks and gold mining companies. His brother, Gerry, helps manage the finances. Gerry is known for his love of classic cars, like a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta.
J.P. McManus often invests money with other famous businessmen. These include John Magnier and Dermot Desmond. Together, they own a successful group of nursing homes called Barchester Healthcare. They also invest in Mitchells & Butlers, a company that owns pubs and restaurants. McManus owns a large part of this business. They were also investors in Ladbrokes, a betting company.
In 1998, McManus was part of a group that bought Sandy Lane in Barbados. This was a big hotel resort. They rebuilt it completely, which cost a lot of money. In 2014, McManus bought another hotel, Adare Manor, in Ireland. It cost €30 million. The resort was closed for two years for big improvements. The golf course was made much better by a famous designer. Adare Manor is now set to host the 2027 Ryder Cup, a very important golf tournament.
His Love for Sport
J.P. McManus has a great passion for sports, especially horse racing and golf.
Horse Racing Success
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McManus is a very famous owner of racehorses. His green and yellow racing colours are known all over the world. His first horse was named Cill Dara. It was named after a county in Ireland. His first big win at the Cheltenham Festival was with a horse called Mister Donovan in 1982.
Over the years, McManus has become the most successful owner at the Cheltenham Festival. He has had 74 winners there! Some of his most famous horses include Istabraq, who won four times at the festival. Baracouda won the Stayers Hurdle twice. Buveur D'Air gave McManus his 50th winner at the festival. A horse he bred himself, Synchronised, won the Gold Cup. This was his first and only win in that race.
McManus has also won the famous Grand National race multiple times. His horse Don't Push It won in 2010. It was ridden by the famous jockey AP McCoy. In 2021, McManus won the Grand National again with Minella Times. This horse was ridden by Rachael Blackmore, a top female jockey. In 2024, he won for a third time with I Am Maximus.
Besides owning horses, McManus also owns places where horses are trained. One is Jackdaws Castle, where former champion jockey Jonjo O'Neill trains horses. He also owns Martinstown Stud in Ireland. His daughter, Sue Anne, owns Islanmore Stud in County Limerick.
Manchester United Investment
J.P. McManus and his friend John Magnier invested in the football club Manchester United in 2000. They bought many shares, becoming big owners. By 2003, they owned almost 25% of the club. Later, they sold all their shares in the club.
Supporting Limerick GAA
In 2023, McManus became the honorary lifetime president of Limerick GAA. This means he is a special leader for the Gaelic sports teams in Limerick. He has supported and invested in the team for almost twenty years.
J.P. McManus Pro-Am Golf Tournament
McManus started the J.P. McManus Pro-Am golf tournament in 1990. The first event was at Limerick Golf Club. It brought in famous golfers and raised €1.5 million for charity. The tournament grew over the years. It attracted major golfers like Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington. Many celebrities also played, such as Sir Alex Ferguson.
In 2005, the tournament moved to Adare Manor. It raised €31 million for 56 charities. In 2010, it raised a record €43.7 million. The tournament returned in 2022, with Xander Schauffele winning.
His Personal Life
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J.P. McManus is married to Noreen McManus. They have three children and four grandchildren. He is a very wealthy person. He is good friends with golfer Tiger Woods and his former jockey AP McCoy. He is also friends with Westlife singer Shane Filan. McManus helped Filan buy a home when he faced financial difficulties.
In 2006, he built a large home in Killmallock, Ireland. It has many bedrooms, a swimming pool, a cinema, and an underground car park. He also owns a large mansion in Barbados and a home in London. He also has a suite at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
McManus owns a private jet and a helicopter. His helicopter is green and yellow, matching his racing colours.
He loves golf and has won team challenges in Scotland with professional golfer Padraig Harrington. His son, Kieran, has also won this tournament twice.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
J.P. McManus is known for his generosity. In 2008, he started the All Ireland Scholarships scheme. This helps 125 students across Ireland each year with money for their education. He also has a charity foundation. In 2012, his foundation gave over €1 million to the Daughters of Charity. He received an award in Monaco for his charity work in Ireland. In 2020, he donated important equipment to a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2023, McManus announced he would donate €1 million to Gaelic games in every county in Ireland. This followed a previous donation of €100,000 to each county in 2018.
The International Rugby Experience in Limerick was built with support from the J.P. McManus Foundation. It opened in May 2023.
Where He Lives and Pays Taxes
J.P. McManus has lived in Switzerland since the 1990s. This means he pays his taxes there. Some people have different opinions about this. He has said that he simply moved abroad and started a business there.
His Health
In late 2008, McManus was diagnosed with cancer. He received treatment in the United States and has recovered well.
Glackin Report
In 1991, an Irish government inspector looked into some business dealings. These involved Dermot Desmond and the sale of a site in Dublin. The report said that J.P. McManus was one of the people who benefited from this sale. The report said McManus received money from the deal. However, no criminal charges were made against McManus or the others involved.
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