Great sadness at death of retired council engineer
Noel Burke worked as an engineer with Mayo County Council for man years.
Glowing tributes have been paid to former Mayo County Council official Noel Burke who has passed away following illness.
An influential and hugely respected member of the engineering staff of the local authority, Mr Burke, of Cloughboley, Manulla, and formerly of Greeve, Breaffy was laid to rest last week. He died peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff in Mayo Hospice, Castlebar, surrounded by his loving family.
A talented golfer, Mr Burke was men’s captain at Castlebar Golf Club in 2017.
A minute's silence was held at last Wednesday's meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District where cathaoirleach Cllr Damien Ryan led tributes to the retired engineer.
“Mr Burke was a member of the engineering team for years and gave unparalleled service to this local authority. He was excellent in the respective roles he held and was someone you could approach on a one-to-one basis and was extremely professional. He isn’t many years retired and to his wife and family and extended family we extend the deepest sympathy of this forum.”
Cllr Gerry Murray said he had worked with Mr Burke for many years. He was a great engineer and a person to do business with.
“He had a great relationship with all council colleagues and problems were always resolved in a short period. He was in the Kitimagh, Kilkelly and Charlestown areas and we are sorry to see him pass at a relatively young age and having had so little of his retirement.”
Cllr Patsy O’Brien wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy, saying: “I worked with him also and one of the last projects was a very significant one when the ESB line was being brought out to the treatment plant. The poles would have been left straight in front of Lough Carra had Noel not worked tirelessly to make sure that did not happen and that will certainly be his legacy today. He was an upfront fellow and a great worker, his death came as a shock.”
Cllr Richard Finn said he had not worked with the late engineer but that “from all accounts, I never heard a bad word about him and that is something in itself".
Cllr Michael Burke said: “Noel Burke was a total gentleman who was a very laid back sort of guy. He was very cooperative, no matter what part of the county or area you wanted worked on. He got on so well with councillors in general and work colleagues."
Head of the municipal district, Padraig Flanagan, said he and the staff in the Claremorris municipal office wished to be associated with the condolences to the family of Mr Burke.
