By Keith Bourke
Tributes were paid to the late Mayo County Council official Padraig Brogan at the monthly meeting of the council last week. Mr Brogan’s untimely death occurred earlier this month after a courageous battle with illness.
Members of Mayo Co Council have paid warm tribute to the late Padraig Brogan.
Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Coyle proposed naming the planned Canal House community facility after the Ballina native who made a lasting contribution to life in Belmullet and Erris.
“Knowing him was a privilege, being his friend was an honour,” said Cllr Coyle. “The words ‘civil servant’ could have been written about Padraig Brogan. He was civil and he was certainly a servant to the people,” he added.
The Belmullet councillor said Mr Brogan’s contribution to the council and the community was incalculable.
“He was courteous, he was caring and his biggest aptitude was that he would listen… He made sincere promises and unbiased decisions in his work. An awful lot of people have cried because he is gone but an awful lot of people have smiled because he lived.”
Cllr Coyle received the support of his fellow councillors when he proposed naming Canal House in Mr Brogan’s honour.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Sean Carey also paid tribute to Mr Brogan.
“He was a very loyal and exceptional public administrator. He always went beyond the call of duty, there was no issue too big or small,” said Cllr Carey. “He regarded Belmullet as his adopted home and he was involved in so many community organisations in the locality.”
Mr Brogan instigated the hugely successful Belmullet Park Run and Cllr Carey said it is hoped that an annual event in his honour will soon be revealed.
Director of Services with Mayo County Council, Catherine McConnell, said his council colleagues are ‘bereft’ following Mr Brogan’s passing. The monthly meeting of the local authority was adjourned early as a mark of respect to the popular council official and a number of other Mayo people who died recently.
Votes of sympathy and warm tributes were also paid to former Castlebar councillor and veterinary surgeon George O’Malley, former Mayo County Council official Paddy Fahy, and Marie Burke, the mother of councillor Cyril Burke and Senator Paddy Burke, who passed away at the age of 95.
Cllr Patsy O’Brien said Ms Burke was one of the ‘finest political ladies who ever drew breath’. Cllr Al McDonnell paid tribute to George O’Malley. “If you spent two minutes with George you would always be in better form afterwards.”
