Members’ praise for recent council retirees

Councillors paid tribute to a slew of long-standing employees who recently announced their retirement from the local authority.

Fiona Duffy, Marian Smith, Matt Boylan and Pat Murtagh all retired from the council, and their departure was noted at the May monthly meeting of elected members.

Cathaoirleach, Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly thanked them for their years of service.

Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly asked to be associated with the tributes, as did Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald.

Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly said that he had always found the retiring staff “very helpful” in all his dealings with them; while party colleague Patricia Walsh singled Ms Smith out. Cllr Walsh said that, when she was first elected, Ms Smith was one of the first people she met and was made “feel very at home”.

Sean Smith (FF) meanwhile described Ms Smith as an “excellent ambassador” for the council.

There were tributes too from Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF), Carmel Brady (FG), Madeleine Argue (FG) and others.

The late Kathleen Reynolds

A vote of condolence has been expressed to the family of the late Kathleen Reynolds, wife of former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

Ms Reynolds (née Coen) passed away, age 88, peacefully at her family home in Dublin on May 4.

She had been ill for some time, and is pre-deceased by her husband, who died in 2014. She is survived by her seven children.

A native of Sligo, Ms Reynolds was by her husband’s side as he was appointed Taoiseach in 1992, serving until 1994.

Tributes were paid to Ms Reynolds nationally follow her death.

The vote of condolence was proposed by Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley.

“She was a great support to Albert,” said Cllr Feeley, who further paid tribute to the steady hand offered by her at the height of Peace Process negotiations.