‘His family was the local community’

LATTON’S “Professor” of politics was remembered with admiration and affection at a specially convened meeting of Monaghan County Council last Thursday following his sudden death at his residence the previous Monday.

Sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus Coyle’s death at the age of 56 years brought his elected colleagues and senior executive members of the Council together to pay tribute to their colleague, with several members linking in remotely from distant locations to be part of the farewell.

Leading the tributes, the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aidan Campbell (FG) said Seamus had a personality that suited him perfectly to public life and community service. “He was a people person,” Cllr Campbell stated, “a generous person who went to great lengths to help people regardless of their status or political background. For Seamus, his family was the local community, and that community was not just his native Latton and Bawn, he saw community in a bigger sense. County and country were equally important to him and the human person and the common good were at the heart of his life.”

The Cathaoirleach recalled the late Cllr Coyle’s election as a Mid-Monaghan Electoral Area representative to the County Council in 2004, subsequently serving the Clones Electoral Area when boundaries changed and, from 2014 onwards, the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District. His renown as a poll-topper reflected the respect and love of his constituents.

Cllr Campbell also noted his service to the GAA as chairman and treasurer of Latton O’Rahillys, and Development Officer and Vice-Chair of the Monaghan County Board where he played a significant strategic planning role.

“These past few years have been difficult for Seamus from a health point of view,” reflected the Cathaoirleach. “Yet he kept going. As we mourn his all-too-sudden passing at a young age, we give thanks for his contribution to public and community life.”

Close party colleague Cllr P.J. O’Hanlon remembered “the best Fianna Fáil councillor I ever worked with”.

“He was nicknamed the Professor and he was truly a highly intelligent and articulate man,” Cllr O’Hanlon continued. “I had nothing but the height of respect for him. He never had a problem being re-elected because the way he worked inside Fianna Fáil was the way he worked outside it.”

The Carrickmacross councillor added: “He loved representing people and really cherished the two occasions he held the chair of Monaghan County Council, it was such an honour for him to be first citizen of the county. We have lost a decent man.”

Cllr Raymond Aughey (FF) said Cllr Coyle had taught them all, had helped make him a better councillor and was most kind to people. “I am aware of people in his Latton community who are distraught at his being taken so young,” he said.

Cllr Pat Treanor (SF) said his Ballybay-Clones MD colleague was a genuine gentleman, a very learned man who knew council regulations and policies thoroughly. In his time as chairperson of the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) Seamus had advocated for the building of cross-border relations and a united Ireland, and he had also chaired and given distinguished service to the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

“A politician to his fingertips and a great GAA man who loved everything about Irish culture and life,” was the tribute paid by Cllr Seamus Treanor (Ind).

Cllr Sean Gilliland (FG), who described himself as Seamus’s nearest political neighbour, shared a conversation they had after Cllr Gilliland was co-opted to council in 2015 following the resignation of Eugene Bannigan. “He welcomed me and said, ‘Aughnamullen is a big place and so is Latton. Would you mind staying in your place and I will stay in mine?’”

“We never had a cross word,” said Cllr Gilliland, “and any project we worked jointly on, we worked hard together and saw through.”

Cllr Seán Conlon (SF) said Cllr Coyle was “a formidable political opponent in the most comradely of senses” who made passionate contributions in the council chamber across a wide range of issues, which he had researched “to the Nth degree”.

“The Professor was an apt name,” remarked Cllr Noel Keelan (SF), “because Seamus displayed a great attention to detail at Council meetings and a command of all issues.” He paid tribute to the strength of his advocacy for the undergrounding of the north-south electricity interconnector project.

“Seamus was not afraid to go against Government policy if he thought it was wrong,” Cllr Keelan continued.

Cllr Richard Truell (FG) described Cllr Coyle as both a “colleague and a friend”.

“He was a gent. I will never forget him and I don’t think anyone here will.”

Remarking on the sense of great sadness across the Ballybay-Clones MD area, Cllr Sinéad Flynn (SF) paid tribute to the deceased councillor’s “wealth of knowledge and experience”.

“His contribution to politics over the last 20 years is second to none,” stated Cllr Alan Johnston (FG). “Seamus was a true local representative.”

“I thought I was a proud Monaghan person before I met Seamus,” remarked Cllr Bronagh McAree (SF). “He showed us what a proud Monaghan person is.”

Cllr Peter Conlon (FG) said: “Seamus had the art of politics nailed down. He could have went anywhere he wanted in politics if the breaks had fallen his way. He didn’t speak, he orated.”

Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF) said Seamus cared about his community - sometimes a rare quality in today’s society. His death is a great loss but there is consolation in that he is now back with his beloved parents.

Cllr Pauric Clerkin (FG) thought Seamus was “way before his time” in his embrace of media channels to get his message across. “He could have been elected in all three of the county’s Municipal Districts if he had stood there,” Cllr Clerkin stated: “He held the respect of people from across the county.”

“A consummate politician,” was the description of Cllr Paul Gibbons (SF), who poignantly recalled the elation displayed by the late councillor following Monaghan’s dramatic comeback win over Derry in the Ulster Senior Football Championship in May.

Chief Executive Robert Burns said Seamus Coyle was a decent, honourable and kind person who made a significant contribution to the county and on the cross-border and regional bodies on which he served. He was well-liked by council staff with whom he engaged respectfully and constructively on issues.

“Seamus was well able to craft an argument and get his point across and represent his constituents in this chamber. He was a very thoughtful man and a deeply committed public representative. We will really miss him here and I sincerely wish he now has the peace he deserves.”

The meeting also passed a vote of sympathy with the family of the late Jennifer Kelly, Corcaghan, Monaghan who passed away on August 10 and had worked for the County Council in its Fire Services section in 2023 and as assistant staff officer in the Monaghan Tax Office in 2024.