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Expressions of Sympathy

By Waterford City & County Council

Statement from Waterford City & County Council on death of Cllr. Davy Daniels

The Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary has paid tribute to his long-time friend and colleague, Cllr. Davy Daniels (Ind), who passed away on January 10th, 2023.

Cllr. Daniels had a long and distinguished career in local politics, having first been elected to Waterford Corporation in 1974.

He served as Mayor of Waterford in 1987/1988 and 2000/2001 and most recently as Metropolitan Mayor in 2020/2021.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’ Leary said, “Davy was steadfast in his role in prioritising the future of Waterford’s development, through and in tandem with communities, charities, business groups and residents’ associations.

“As a man who loved sport, Davy was committed to the enhancement and provision of sporting amenities. He derived great pleasure when a sports club secured a new pitch, ground or changing facilities.  He played an integral part in the development of the Regional Sports Centre, Williamstown Sport Complex, and the People’s Park, being only too well aware of the benefits that sport can bring to individuals and groups.

“A passionate advocate of the arts and culture scene, he was protective of Waterford’s theatrical, musical, and visual arts communities, seeking funding and support in order to keep Waterford’s creativity shining bright.

“In addition to his passion, commitment, and dedication he remained throughout a genuine people-person.  Everyone who met him was touched by his warm, caring persona.  He had time and a word for everybody he encountered.  That to me, is what exemplified Davy, a dedicated councillor, a proud Waterford man and a compassionate human being.”

Michael Walsh, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council also paid tribute to Ireland’s longest serving city-based councillor.  “Davy was first elected in 1974 and in the intervening years, he never lost the spark or passion, and that’s what made him a great public representative.

He was committed to the betterment of Waterford, be it through economic development, education, social and cultural enhancement, and the promotion of our tourism and archaeological heritage.  He never stopped beating the drum for his native city.

On behalf of the Council executive, I wish to extend deepest condolences to his wife Mary, his sons Liam and David, his grandchildren, his extended family, and wide circle of friends and colleagues.”

A Book of Condolence will be opened at City Hall on the Mall and Civic Offices, Dungarvan from 2pm today (January 11th).  An online Book of Condolence is also available at https://bit.ly/CllrDavyDaniels-RIP

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By Waterford City & County Council

Flags at half mast to mark funeral of Pope Benedict XVI

Waterford City & County Council will lower flags on Council buildings in Waterford and Dungarvan to half mast today Thursday, January 5th, to mark the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, served as the Pope from 2005 to 2013. He was the oldest Pope to be elected in nearly 300 years and the first Pope to resign in over 600 years. During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI worked to promote traditional Catholic teachings and values, and played a significant role in the Church’s response to the sexual abuse scandals that had plagued the Church in the preceding years. His passing marks the end of an era in the Catholic Church.

The Council extends its condolences to all those affected by the Pope’s passing.

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayor opens Books of Condolence for Creeslough and the late Billy Kyne

Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr. John O’Leary has opened online Books of Condolence for the victims of the Creeslough tragedy and for the late Billy Kyne, former Mayor of Waterford County.

Members of the public may sign these books below:

Physical Books of Condolence are also available in both our Dungarvan and City Hall Customer Service offices.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayor of Waterford City & County expresses sympathy to the people of Creeslough

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary has expressed sympathy to the people of Creeslough, Co. Donegal.

Mayor O’Leary said:

“On behalf of the people of Waterford, and as Mayor of Waterford City & County Council, I would like to extend my sincere sympathies to the families of the victims of the recent Creeslough tragedy. Ten lives have been suddenly and tragically cut short and our thoughts, our prayers and our assistance must now go to those left bereaved by these awful events.

This tragedy shows just how fleeting life can be … people visiting a filling station, their local post office, the local shop … going about their daily business, just as any of us would be.

When a tragedy like this occurs, it is all the more important to rally around the affected communities and do what we can in some small way. With this in mind, I would encourage people to give what they can, however small, to the Irish Red Cross who are coordinating a Community Support Fund for the Creeslough community. The fund will work to assist those who have been bereaved, injured, made homeless, or left without an income because of the tragedy.

The saying “There but for the grace of God, go we all” is very apt in these sad circumstances, so once again I say to the people of Creeslough and Donegal, and to the heroic efforts of the emergency services who attended so vigilantly to the scene … we are with you, we are thinking of you and may God rest the victims of this sad and terrible event.”

 

By Waterford City & County Council

DEATH OF CLLR. JAMES TOBIN, FORMER MAYOR OF WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr John O’ Leary:

It is with great sadness and shock that I learned today of the passing of my good friend, party colleague, and former mayor of Waterford City & County, Councillor James Tobin.

I have the honour of saying I knew James for over 30 years and in that time, I was privileged to work closely with him and consider myself a friend of his.

I first met James when he was Chairman of the Waterford GAA County Board in 1984.  As a proud member of Knockanore Shamrocks club, chairing the county board during the GAAs centenary year was something he was immensely proud of.

James immersed himself in his community and undertook numerous roles in order to make a difference. He was a member of Knockanore, Glendine, Kilwatermoy Community Council, Member of South East Regional Authority and Vice Chairman of Déise Link Rural transport Committee, a role he particularly relished as he was committed to ensuring that people in remote rural villages and towns had access to transport to ensure they didn’t feel isolated.  He was also Chairman of Board of Management of St. Carthages House Lismore.

James’ commitment and dedication were far-reaching in local politics.  He was a councillor since 1999 and in 2014/15 he became the first Mayor of the newly amalgamated Waterford City and County Council.  At the time, James stated that he thought this might be a difficult role, trying to bring two separate entities together so they would work in harmony.  However, it was something that he managed to do, almost seamlessly and in doing so, set a very high bar for future Plenary Mayors.

In 2020/21 James served as Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan/Lismore district Council.

It was less than a week ago that James was elected Deputy Mayor of Waterford City and County, and I was very much looking forward to sharing my mayoralty with a man whose selflessness and dedication to his constituents were his trademark.

James lost the love of his life, Anne, less than two years ago.  She was a woman he described as ‘his rock’ and he often recalled how she was so giving of her time to everyone she met.  Like James, the rural community held a special place in Anne’s heart.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to James’ children Mairéad, Micheál, Seán, Áine, Séamus and Pádraig, their partners and grandchildren, and the community of Ballyhamlet, Tallow.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

 

Michael Walsh, Chief Executive, Waterford City and County Council:

Waterford City and County Council has lost a dedicated public servant and a man whose commitment to his community was consummate.

James served as a councillor for over twenty years and in that time, his love of his family, his party and his community was evident.

Even throughout the difficult time when he lost his beloved wife, Anne, James served with great dignity and strength.

I would like to extend my condolences to his children, grandchildren, and extended family, to the community of Ballyhamlet and Knockanore, his party colleagues and fellow councillors.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Image attached:

Cllr James Tobin, serving as Mayor of Waterford City and County in 2014/15

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Dervla Murphy RIP

As Mayor of Waterford City and County, I am saddened to hear of Dervla Murphy’s passing and extend my condolences to her daughter, grandchildren and many friends.

Dervla was Ireland’s most famous travel writer and a native of Lismore, Co Waterford.  During her ninety years Dervla travelled across continents, wrote over 25 travel books and famously documented her six-month journey through Europe, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India on a bike in Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle in 1965.

Waterford has lost an icon, a trailblazer, an intrepid adventurer and a woman who was ahead of her time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

  • Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Kelly

By Waterford City & County Council

Vigils for Ashling Murphy across Waterford

A number of vigils will be held around Waterford city and county in the coming days where people can pay their respects to Ashling Murphy RIP.

Adding his condolences, Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr. Joe Kelly said :

On behalf of the people of Waterford City and County, I would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Ashling Murphy’s family, friends and colleagues, and express our absolute shock, anger and sadness at the taking of such a beautiful life.

Vigils take place across Waterford City and County today and tomorrow to remember Ashling, a young woman with her whole life ahead of her.

She was going for a run. We must do better.

  • Ardmore – Friday 4pm Storm Wall, Old Church Car Park
  • Cappoquin – Friday 5pm, Village Square
  • Waterford City – Friday 6pm – Peoples Park
  • Ballymacarbry – Friday 6pm, Community Centre Car Park
  • Lismore – Friday 6pm, Millennium Park
  • Dungarvan & Abbeyside – Friday 6:15pm – Walton Park
  • Portlaw – Friday 8pm, Town Square
  • Waterford – Saturday 4pm – Greenway Carriganore
  • Tallow, Friday  6 pm-Hyde Park

By Waterford City & County Council

Sad passing of Des Manahan, Waterford RIP

Waterford City & County Council are saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Des Manahan, Waterford and wish to extend sympathies on behalf of the Mayor, Chief Executive and staff of the Council to his wife Mona and all the Manahan family.

Strongly linked with the Waterford theatre scene, Des’s presence will be missed by his many friends, and theatre goers across Waterford and beyond.

Des and Mona together served as Grand Marshalls of the 2019 Waterford St. Patrick’s Day Parade and our picture shows then Mayor, Cllr. John O’Leary presenting them with a momento of the occasion.

Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford City & County Council extends a vote of sympathy on the passing of former Mayor and Councillor, Pat Hayes

Waterford City and County Council held a Special Meeting at 12pm today (Tuesday 29th December 2020) to extend sympathies to the family of the late Pat Hayes, former Mayor and Elected Waterford City Council representative.

Deepest sympathies are extended to Pat’s wife Bridie, his daughter Eimear, sons Emmett, Mark, Michael and Padraig and to his extended family, friends and colleagues.

The Mayor of Waterford opened the special meeting by saying “Pat was known to all through his involvement in politics, through his proud affiliation to the Labour Party and of all the traditions that came with politics. Pat was a great friend and ambassador to the arts community in Waterford and was a regular visitor to many shows and plays. His passing has evoked a great sadness throughout the county and country. Pat had a warm and engaging personality and he had a wonderful ability to make you feel you were the centre of attention. Pat gave fantastic representation to Waterford, was hugely proud of Waterford and Waterford can be immensely proud of that representation”

Pat Hayes was first elected to Waterford Corporation in 1991 and he proudly represented the constituency of Ward One until his retirement in 2013. During his 22-year political career, Pat twice served as Mayor to the City of Waterford and represented Waterford during exceptional events. During his term as Mayor in 2000 Waterford celebrated the millennium and again in 2011 Waterford hosted the Tall Ships Race. Pat was known across the country through his involvement with the Local Authorities Members Association (LAMA) where he served as joint honorary treasurer of LAMA with his former colleague the late John Carey.

Cllr. Seamus Ryan said of his Labour Party colleague, “Pat Hayes, during his working life with An Post, as a local Councillor, Mayor of Waterford and as someone dedicated to several community based organisations, Pat epitomised the values of public service and society so important to the Labour party which he was a staunch member of. He had a warm personality and loved to engage people. That could be a greeting on the street, a word with someone on behalf of a constituent that had raised an issue with him, contributing to the work of the many committees he was involved in, or speaking as a firm advocate for Waterford.  His family, to whom our deepest sympathies are extended, can be very proud of Pat Hayes. He gave of his best for them, for Waterford and for us all.”

An online Book of Condolence will open today Tuesday 29th December 2020 to allow the people of Waterford to express their sympathies to Pat’s family. The Online Book of Condolence can be found on http://bit.ly/PatHayesRIP

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Council statement on passing of Mrs. Anne Tobin, RIP

It is with regret and deep sadness that Waterford City & County Council has been informed of the death of Mrs. Anne Tobin, Ballyhamlet, Tallow, Co.Waterford.   Anne is the wife of Cllr. James Tobin, Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan/Lismore district Council and former mayor of Waterford City & County Council.

The current Mayor, Cllr. Damien Geoghegan and the Chief Executive Michael Walsh have expressed their sincere sympathies to the Tobin family at this difficult time, on behalf of all the staff and Councillors of Waterford City & County Council.

Owing to the current Covid-19 restrictions, it is not possible, as would be normal, for the robed body of Councillors to attend funeral proceedings.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

By Waterford City & County Council

Mayoral Statement on death of Det. Garda Colm Horkan, RIP

The Mayor of Waterford, Councillor John Pratt offers sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Waterford to family, colleagues and friends of Det. Garda Colm Horkan, RIP.

Flags will be flown at half mast at all Civic Offices as a mark of respect.

Ar dheis Dé do raibh a anam.

By Waterford City & County Council

Reminder: Online Book of Condolences open for Brendan Bowyer RIP

Online Book of Condolences opens for Brendan Bowyer, Freeman of Waterford City

The Mayor of the City and County of Waterford, Cllr. John Pratt expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the late Brendan Bowyer RIP, who passed away in Las Vegas last evening surrounded by his family.  Brendan Bowyer, who was awarded the Freedom of Waterford City in 2011, is survived by his wife Stella, children Brendan Jr, Aisling and Clodagh and his two grandchildren Liam and Nora Stella.

Cllr. Pratt said “Brendan Bowyer was a true Waterford man and is remembered fondly by Waterford people for his iconic career throughout the showband era. His 1965 Number One hit “The Hucklebuck” is a favourite of many Waterford people. He memorably brought Waterford to life with a memorable rendition in Lombard Street during the 2005 Tall Ships event. He will be sadly missed and remembered by Waterford people”.

Brendan Bowyer was honoured to have the Freedom of Waterford City bestowed on him by the then Mayor of Waterford City, Cllr. Mary Roche who said, ”It was an honour to be part of such a memorable occasion and who more fitting to receive the award than Brendan Bowyer of the Royal Showband which put Waterford on the international map.”

A Book of Condolences is open online at https://bit.ly/BrendanBowyerRIP and we encourage the people of Waterford to add their own personal message. The Book of Condolences will remain open until Monday 8th June 2020.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Photo Credit: Noel Browne

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Online Book of Condolences open to honor the late Brendan Bowyer RIP

Online Book of Condolences opens for Brendan Bowyer, Freeman of Waterford City

The Mayor of the City and County of Waterford, Cllr. John Pratt expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the late Brendan Bowyer RIP, who passed away in Las Vegas last evening surrounded by his family.  Brendan Bowyer, who was awarded the Freedom of Waterford City in 2011, is survived by his wife Stella, children Brendan Jr, Aisling and Clodagh and his two grandchildren Liam and Nora Stella.

Cllr. Pratt said “Brendan Bowyer was a true Waterford man and is remembered fondly by Waterford people for his iconic career throughout the showband era. His 1965 Number One hit “The Hucklebuck” is a favourite of many Waterford people. He memorably brought Waterford to life with a memorable rendition in Lombard Street during the 2005 Tall Ships event. He will be sadly missed and remembered by Waterford people”.

Brendan Bowyer was honoured to have the Freedom of Waterford City bestowed on him by the then Mayor of Waterford City, Cllr. Mary Roche who said, ”It was an honour to be part of such a memorable occasion and who more fitting to receive the award than Brendan Bowyer of the Royal Showband which put Waterford on the international map.”

A Book of Condolences is open online at https://bit.ly/BrendanBowyerRIP and we encourage the people of Waterford to add their own personal message. The Book of Condolences will remain open until Monday 8th June 2020.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Photo Credit: Noel Browne

 

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